Gaza flotilla vessels boarded by Israeli forces — a number of Irish activists detained
A picture posted by the Israeli foreign ministry showing members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, after Israeli forces boarded at least 13 boats.
Israeli forces have stopped 13 boats carrying foreign activists and aid bound for Gaza, but 30 boats are continuing to sail towards the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave, flotilla organisers said on Thursday.
The boats have a number of Irish people on board. Kieran Andrrieu, a journalist from Novara Media aboard the Adara boat, said in a live link on YouTube: "The whole flotilla is being intercepted."
Shortly after 7pm (Irish time) on Wednesday, confirmation began that boats were being intercepted. Those that were boarded were hosed with jets of water and large blinding lights were shone into the cabin areas.
A short time later, a message on the campaign's X feed said: "Israeli forces have boarded Global Sumud Flotilla vessels. Communication is cut and the status of those on board is unknown. Immediate international action is needed for their safety and release."
It included a video from one of the boats, Sirius, saying they had been boarded and asking people around the world to ask their Governments to put pressure on Israel to release those who have been taken.
A video from the Israeli foreign ministry verified by showed the most prominent of the flotilla's passengers, Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers.
Already several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port.
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 1, 2025
Greta and her friends are safe and healthy. pic.twitter.com/PA1ezier9s
"Several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port," the Israeli foreign ministry said on X. "Greta and her friends are safe and healthy."
The Global Sumud Flotilla, transporting medicine and food to Gaza, consists of more than 40 civilian boats with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.
A short time later a message on the campaign's X feed said: "Israeli forces have boarded Global Sumud Flotilla vessels. Communication is cut and the status of those on board is unknown. Immediate international action is needed for their safety and release."
It included a video from one of the boats, Sirius, saying they had been boarded and asking people around the world to ask their Governments to put pressure on Israel to release those who have been taken.
The flotilla's organisers denounced Wednesday's raid as a "war crime". They said the military used aggressive tactics, including the use of water cannon, but that no one was harmed.
"Multiple vessels ... were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli Occupation Forces in international waters," the organisers said in a statement.
The boats were about 70 nautical miles off the war-ravaged enclave when they were intercepted, inside a zone that Israel is policing to stop any boats approaching. The organisers said their communications had been scrambled, including the use of a live camera feed from some of the boats.
The flotilla said in separate posts on Telegram that its vessels Spectre, Alma, and Sirius, along with other boats in international waters had been boarded by Israeli forces, and that the status of those on board was unconfirmed.
The flotilla has repeatedly called on governments and international institutions, demanding safety and the release of unarmed humanitarians on the mission.
The flotilla had hoped to arrive in Gaza on Thursday morning if it was not intercepted.
Recordings of messages being broadcast to boat skippers from Israel forces are informing members of the flotilla that they are going to be boarded and that they will be detained and held fully responsible for what happens.
Among the Irish citizens to be detained was Tara O’Grady.
She was one of a number of crew on the flotilla who pre-recorded messages that were to be sent if they were held by Israeli forces.
“This message is to appeal to my family, my friends, my government, all of our public representatives in Ireland, to appeal for our swift release,” she said in her message, which was recorded during daylight, and while the flotilla was sailing to the interception point, about 70 nautical miles from Gaza.
Another, Thomas McCune, said: “I'm an Irish citizen, and if you're watching this video, I have been illegally abducted by Israeli occupation forces and taken against my will.
“Please contact Simon Harris and the Department of Foreign Affairs to demand my immediate release.
“Please also put pressure on the Irish government to immediately cease its violation of our neutrality and sovereignty by allowing US and NATO war planes to refuel in Shannon Airport and the transfer of munitions to the terrorist state of Israel.”
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon posted on X: "We will not allow any PR stunt approaching an active war zone to violate our sovereignty. Those who tried to enter Israeli territory illegally will be deported immediately after Yom Kippur in Israel. Israel has repeatedly offered ways to peacefully deliver aid to Gaza, but this flotilla is not interested in aid - only provocation."
Senior Government officials are set to meet on Thursday to discuss the Sumud Flotilla, as Tánaiste Simon Harris says the “overriding” concern is for the welfare of those onboard.
Mr Harris is also expected to speak with Ireland’s ambassador to Israel. Mr Harris said he understood individuals captured by Israel would be “transferred to an Israeli port for processing”.
On Wednesday, Senator Chris Andrews said that boarding was "imminent" on his ship, the Spectre.
Israeli warship directly off my boat, the Spectre.
— Senator Chris Andrews #stopthegenocide (@chrisandrews64) October 1, 2025
Boarding is imminent and this will likely be my last post before I am kidnapped.
Saoirse don Phalaistín 🇵🇸✊🇮🇪
As well as a number of Irish activists, the flotilla has Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers aboard. It consists of nearly 50 boats and 500 activists.
The boats are carrying baby formula, children’s crutches and medicine.
Mr Andrews’ boat is one of 48 sailing together with the Global Sumud Flotilla, with approximately four others further behind.
Crew are now organising for an evacuation, putting on shoes and lifejackets and getting ready to throw their phones overboard, Mr Andrews said.
He criticised comments made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin today, calling for the flotilla, one which a number of Irish citizens are sailing, to stop because it was not safe in the face of likely Israeli action. Mr Andrews said:
Mr Martin said he does not believe the flotilla should “progress” as he is “very concerned” about the situation.
It is coming towards a very dangerous situation,” Mr Martin told reporters in Copenhagen.
“We would say to the Israeli Government that it must behave within international law and also deal with this in a way that doesn't cause harm to any members on board various ships and flotillas.
“This is not a military operation. It's not violent, these people are peaceful.
"The people on the various boats, they're there to profile, shine a light on the appalling deprivation in Gaza and the lack of humanitarian aid going into Gaza. It's a humanitarian mission.
“We do believe there's danger there, and we have said to people, to Irish citizens, that it's not an area for safe travel.
“People shouldn't, in my view, progress further and should do everything they can to protect themselves and to make sure they don't come in harm's way.
"But there's a huge responsibility also on the Israeli government, to handle this with caution, sensitivity, and acknowledge that this is a humanitarian mission, first and foremost.
He said ultimately, the war needs to stop and all of the hostages should be released.
"And we need to get UN-controlled humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
The flotilla has raised international tensions in recent days since it was attacked by drones, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on the vessels, causing damage but no injuries. Israel has said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza.
And the flotilla stated that unidentified vessels approached some of its boats before dawn on Wednesday as it got closer to a zone where Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the war-stricken strip.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, President Michael D Higgins said that the events should "alarm the entire world."
Mr Higgins said: “In recent weeks there was a near consensus among members of the United Nations that a Palestinian State should be recognised as an essential building block for peace in the region.
He added: "The safety and protection of those involved in this humanitarian exercise is a concern for all of us and all of the nations from which the people come.
"Gaza and the West Bank are part of what would be a Palestinian State. It is to occupied territory that the flotilla is directing its humanitarian mission.
"At the same time as this is occurring, the exit from northern Gaza towards the south is in danger of being blocked, leaving a civilian population who could not be more vulnerable to the mercy of endless bombing and the destruction of their homes.
"Put together with the now clearly recognised breaches of international law and the status of the International Committee of the Red Cross being forced to suspend operations in Gaza City to this civilian population, all of these events should alarm the entire world.”
- additional reporting by Reuters
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