Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu directly approved attacks on the Gaza aid flotilla early last month while it was moored off Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said, still hundreds of kilometres away from its destination, according to a new report.
CBS News cited American intelligence officers as saying the attacks on 8 and 9 September on two boats in the flotilla were carried out by the Israeli military, which launched drones and incendiary devices from a submarine.
The report came as Israel said it was “finalising the deportation” of over 400 activists detained at the notorious Ketziot prison after being captured as part of the Gaza aid flotilla.
Greta Thunberg is among those to be deported after her aid vessel was intercepted by the Israeli military as it neared the besieged Gaza Strip, Israeli officials have said.
The final sailing flotilla vessel, Marinette, was captured 42 nautical miles from Gaza, organisers said on Friday.
The move to stop the Global Sumud Flotilla has sparked backlash from the international community including leaders in Colombia, Malaysia, Brazil and Italy. Turkey’s foreign ministry called Israel’s interception “an act of terror”.
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Greta Thunberg’s Gaza aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces as activists face deportation again
Key Points
- Netanyahu ordered attacks on Gaza flotilla – report
- Reports of injuries among 14 Irish citizens detained after Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted
- Final vessel, Marinette, intercepted, 42 nautical miles from Gaza
- Protests erupt across Brazil, Mexico, the US, Spain, Italy, London, Athens and more
- Amnesty International criticises Israeli interception of flotilla
Global protests after Gaza aid flotilla stopped by Israel
06:59
,
Adam Withnall
Protests have been held worldwide after a flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza were stopped by Israeli military miles from the shores of the besieged strip.
Read more in this full report:
Protests grip Italy in response to Israel's flotilla interception
05:48
,
Adam Withnall
More than 2 million people across Italy rallied in over 100 cities Friday for a one-day general strike to support the residents of Gaza and a humanitarian aid mission, Italy's largest union said.
Italian unions proclaimed the strike after the Global Sumud Flotilla that was trying to break Israel's naval blockade to deliver aid to Gaza was intercepted by Israeli naval forces Wednesday night. Protests and demonstrations have sprung up all over Europe and globally since then, but they have been particularly strong in Italy.
Italy's conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had sharply criticised the strike. She anticipated it would cause widespread disruption across the country and said it was politically motivated and targeted her right-wing government.
According to the CGIL union, 300,000 people marched through the streets of Rome alone, while the national average participation in the general strike stood at around 60 per cent, halting all the main services in key sectors including transportation and schools.
In Florence, protesters approached the gates of the Italian national soccer team's training centre to demand its upcoming World Cup qualifier against Israel not be played because of the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu ordered attacks on Gaza flotilla – report
04:28
,
Adam Withnall
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu directly approved attacks on the Gaza aid flotilla early last month while it was moored off Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said, still hundreds of kilometres away from its destination, according to a new report.
CBS News cited American intelligence officers as saying the attacks on 8 and 9 September on two boats in the flotilla were carried out by the Israeli military, which launched drones and incendiary devices from a submarine.
The attacks caused a fire on the boats but did not lead to any injuries, and the fire was extinguished. Activists reclaimed the remnants of what appeared to be a device used to start the fires, before continuing on their journey towards Gaza.
Under international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict, the use of incendiary weapons against a civilian population or civilian objects is prohibited in all circumstances, CBS noted.
The Israeli military has yet to comment on the report.
2 million rally in Italy for Gaza as general strike halts key services
03:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Watch: Video shows on board Gaza aid flotilla vessel as activists hit by water
02:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Pictured: Pro-Palestinian demonstration in Istanbul
01:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Trump vows ‘all hell’ will break loose if Hamas doesn’t agree to his Gaza peace plan by new deadline
Saturday 4 October 2025 00:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Watch: Moment Israeli military storms Gaza aid flotilla vessels
Friday 3 October 2025 23:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Italy rallied in over 100 cities to support Gaza
Friday 3 October 2025 22:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Millions of people across Italy rallied in over 100 cities on Friday for a one-day general strike to support the residents of Gaza and a humanitarian aid mission.
It comes after dozens of aid vessels were stopped as they approached the Gaza Strip and over 500 volunteers were detained.
Protests have sprung up all over Europe and globally since then, but they have been particularly strong in Italy.
Italy's conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had sharply criticised the strike. She anticipated it would cause widespread disruption across the country and said it was politically motivated and targeted her right-wing government.
Switzerland to file a diplomatic protest to Israel
Friday 3 October 2025 21:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Switzerland is set to file a diplomatic protest to Israel after Israeli security forces cut short a visit by Swiss diplomats to imprisoned detainees from the Gaza aid flotilla.
"Due to various incidents, the Israeli security authorities interrupted the visit, preventing the Swiss embassy representatives from talking at length with the group of Swiss nationals," the Swiss foreign ministry said.
Nineteen Swiss nationals were aboard boats in the flotilla of dozens of vessels that tried to deliver aid to Israeli-blockaded Gaza. They were taken into custody on Thursday by Israeli forces who intercepted the flotilla at sea and eventually taken to Ketziot prison.
The Swiss foreign ministry said it would demand from Israel immediate access to the detained Swiss nationals.
Representatives from the Swiss teams visited the Ketziot prison for eight hours, the ministry said, adding that they planned to return on Sunday.
Greta Thunberg seen for first time since being detained by Israeli military
Friday 3 October 2025 20:00
,
Maira Butt
“Already 4 Italian citizens have been deported. The rest are in the process of being deported,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote on X/Twitter on Friday.
“Israel is keen to end this procedure as quickly as possible.
“Attached are photos of Greta Thunberg and other members of this provocation while arriving to Israel. All are safe and in good health.”
Ben-Gvir calls flotilla aid volunteers 'terrorists'
Friday 3 October 2025 19:30
,
Maira Butt
Footage circulating on social media shows Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir appearing to taunt volunteers captured by the Israeli military.
Dozens of aid vessels were stopped as they approached the Gaza Strip and over 500 volunteers were detained.
“These are the flotilla terrorists,” the far-right politician is heard saying. “Look at them, supporters of murderers.”
He said the group had left their ships “a mess”. Activists sitting on the floor chanted “Free Palestine” in return.
The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza condemned the action, saying it showed Mr Gvir “swaggering before activists from 50 countries around the world, surrounded by his guards.”
All flotilla vessels confirmed as intercepted, according to organisers
Friday 3 October 2025 19:00
,
Maira Butt
The Global Sumud Flotilla tracker has confirmed that all boats have now been intercepted by Israeli military.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry says that it is processing the deportation of volunteers “as quickly as possible”, and called the mission a “sham”.
Shabana Mahmood calls flotilla protests 'fundamentally un-British'
Friday 3 October 2025 18:30
,
Maira Butt
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has criticised supporters of the Palestine aid flotilla.
“I was very disappointed to see those protests go ahead last night,” Ms Mahmood told Sky News, suggesting that the demonstration was untimely in light of the Manchester synagogue attacks.
“I think that behaviour is fundamentally unBritish ... I think it's dishonourable.”
In pictures: Protests erupt across the world after flotilla vessels captured by Israeli military
Friday 3 October 2025 18:00
,
Maira Butt
Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Milan, London, Athens and other major European cities saw the outbreak of protests this week after over 400 volunteers were captured by the Israeli military after trying to take aid to Gaza.
Over 47 nationalities are said to have been represented on the humanitarian mission.
Over 66,000 people have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded as experts have urged urgent intervention for the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
In pictures: Flotilla volunteers seen as Israel attempts to deport 'as quickly as possible'
Friday 3 October 2025 17:30
,
Maira Butt
New pictures released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry shows detained volunteers following interception by the Israeli Navy.
Gaza aid flotilla volunteers hit by water before Israeli military capture
Friday 3 October 2025 17:01
,
Maira Butt
Israel intercepted Gaza aid flotilla in international waters – is it legal?
Friday 3 October 2025 16:20
,
Maira Butt
World leaders and human rights groups have condemned Israel’s actions, saying they violated international maritime law.
Was the Gaza aid flotilla legal under international law?
Ibrahim Hazboun and Renata Brito report:
Flotilla organisers issue statement after final vessel intercepted
Friday 3 October 2025 16:00
,
Maira Butt
“Marinette, the last remaining boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla, was intercepted at 10:29am local time, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza,” it wrote in a post on its Telegram channel.
“Over 38 hours, Israeli occupation naval forces illegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels—each carrying humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza.
“Marinette sailed forward with the spirit of sumud—steadfastness—even after seeing the fate of 41 boats before her.
“But this is not the end of our mission. Our determination to confront Israel’s atrocities and stand with the Palestinian people remains unshaken.
“As people rise up in cities worldwide to demand an end to these horrors and to take a stand for humanity, we rise together with one voice: We will not stop until the genocide ends. We will not stop until Palestine is free.”
A two-year UN investigation conclude that Israel is committing a genocide, however the state denies the claims and says they are “false” and “distorted”.
UK Foreign Office 'very concerned' about Flotilla, warns Israel it expects 'situation to be resolved safely'
Friday 3 October 2025 15:39
,
Maira Butt
The UK Foreign Office has said it is “very concerned about the situation with the Sumud Flotilla”.
“We have been in contact with the Israeli authorities to make clear we expect the situation to be resolved safely,” the UK Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday.
“We are in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved.”
Over 500 activists and professionals of 44 nationalities are represented on the fleet carrying aid to Gaza.
Watch: Moment Israeli military storms Gaza aid flotilla vessels
Friday 3 October 2025 15:20
,
Maira Butt
Daughter of elderly British citizen and former RAF pilot detained by Israel, expresses concern for his wellbeing
Friday 3 October 2025 14:48
,
Maira Butt
The daughter of 72-year-old Malcolm Ducker has expressed concern for her father, an activist and former RAF pilot who was on board the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza.
Mr Ducker is being held at the Ketziot prison in the Negev desert, according to reports.
“This is where they keep Palestinians accused of terrorism so I have concerns about their welfare — this looks punitive,” told The Times.
“They said it is because there are so many of them and they need to keep them together but I don’t believe that for a second.”
'We are waiting and excited': Palestinians waited on Gaza shores for flotilla
Friday 3 October 2025 14:26
,
Maira Butt
Palestinians waiting for the aid that was to be delivered via the Global Sumud Flotilla, shared their experience before the vessels were captured by Israeli military.
Videos on social media on Thursday showed a group of young people waiting for activists to break the blockade of the besieged strip.
“The boats will arrive in a couple of hours, so we wish they could succeed in arriving,” said TikTok user @louay...gaza.
“We are waiting and excited. We hope they succeed.”
A sign read: “The steadfastness flotilla is Gaza’s last hope.”
The video has been viewed nearly 3 million times.
Israel maintains that the mission was a “sham” and publicity stunt.
@louay...gaza The Steadfastness Flotilla is Gaza's last hope
♬ original sound - ЯRMUSIC -
'The games are over': Ben-Gvir tours notorious Ketziot prison where flotilla volunteers are detained
Friday 3 October 2025 14:10
,
Maira Butt
“We are in Ketziot Prison and as I promised, these flotilla members, supporters of terrorism are here in security prison,” Israel’s far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said as he toured the detention centre located in the Negev desert, in footage shared by Israel’s Channel 14.
“The games are over – they are getting conditions like terrorists for all intents and purposes. Terrorists sweatshirts, terrorists conditions.”
Alleged use of 'skunk water' against flotilla volunteers criticised by academic
Friday 3 October 2025 13:58
,
Maira Butt
Dalia Gebrial, a lecturer in Geography and Social Justice at King’s College London, has criticised the alleged use of “skunk water” by the Israeli military against flotilla volunteers.
Footage shared from the Global Sumud Flotilla showed activists being drenched with water cannons, which they say carried a highly noxious smell.
“It was first used by demonstrators in the West Bank in 2008. It is about drenching people in a foul smell,” Ms Gebrial told Novara Media.
“It is a universally important issue of justice.”
In pictures: Global protests erupt across US, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Greece and more
Friday 3 October 2025 13:40
,
Maira Butt
Detainees to be kept in high-security prison
Friday 3 October 2025 13:07
,
Maira Butt
Dozens of activists taken off a flotilla of boats in international waters will be incarcerated at the notorious Ketziot prison in the Negev desert.
Omer Shatz, an Israeli international law expert at Sciences Po University in Paris, said unlike where flotilla activists were held the last time, Ketziot was a high-security prison that did not normally hold immigration detainees.
All flotilla vessels confirmed as intercepted, according to organisers
Friday 3 October 2025 12:10
,
Maira Butt
The Global Sumud Flotilla tracker has confirmed that all boats have now been intercepted by Israeli military.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry says that it is processing the deportation of volunteers “as quickly as possible”, and called the mission a “sham”.
Ben-Gvir calls flotilla aid volunteers 'terrorists'
Friday 3 October 2025 11:56
,
Maira Butt
Footage circulating on social media shows Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir appearing to taunt volunteers captured by the Israeli military.
Dozens of aid vessels were stopped as they approached the Gaza Strip and over 500 volunteers were detained.
“These are the flotilla terrorists,” he is heard saying. “Look at them, supporters of murderers.”
He said the group had left their ships “a mess”. Activists sitting on the floor chanted “Free Palestine” in return.
The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza condemned the action, saying it showed Mr Gvir “swaggering before activists from 50 countries around the world, surrounded by his guards.”
Tens of thousands go on strike in Italy for Gaza flotilla
Friday 3 October 2025 11:40
,
Maira Butt
Trade unions called for a day-long general strike in support of an aid flotilla carrying humanitarian supplies and food to Gaza.
“After what I saw with the flotilla, I thought I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. It's the first time I go to these kind of demonstrations,” Mario Mascetti, a protester in Rome, told Reuters.
The CGIL unit planned demonstrations in more than 100 cities across the country. Leader Maurizio Landini said the groups were gathered to “defend brotherhood among individuals, among peoples”.
Israel accuses the mission of being a publicity stunt. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggested people had used the protest as an excuse for a longer weekend.
In pictures: Flotilla volunteers seen as Israel attempts to deport 'as quickly as possible'
Friday 3 October 2025 11:05
,
Maira Butt
New pictures released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry shows detained volunteers following interception by the Israeli Navy.
Greta Thunberg seen for first time since being detained by Israeli military
Friday 3 October 2025 10:59
,
Maira Butt
“Already 4 Italian citizens have been deported. The rest are in the process of being deported,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote on X/Twitter on Friday.
“Israel is keen to end this procedure as quickly as possible.
“Attached are photos of Greta Thunberg and other members of this provocation while arriving to Israel. All are safe and in good health.”
Four Italian parliamentarians to fly back to Rome today
Friday 3 October 2025 10:55
,
Maira Butt
As Israel promises to deport volunteers who attempted to carry aid to Gaza, Italy has said that its citizens will likely be sent to European capitals on charter flights on Monday and Tuesday early next week.
Four italian parliamentarians have been released and are due to fly to Rome today. More than 20 Italian citizens were involved in the humanitarian mission.
Shabana Mahmood calls flotilla protests 'fundamentally un-British'
Friday 3 October 2025 10:17
,
Maira Butt
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has criticised supporters of the Palestine aid flotilla.
“I was very disappointed to see those protests go ahead last night,” Ms Mahmood told Sky News, suggesting that the demonstration was untimely in light of the Manchester synagogue attacks.
“I think that behaviour is fundamentally unBritish ... I think it's dishonourable.”
Palestinians able to fish for food as Israeli military 'distracted'
Friday 3 October 2025 09:52
,
Maira Butt
Palestinians have shared videos of themselves fishing in the Mediterranean Sea as the Israeli navy has found itself preoccupied with flotilla interceptions.
The UN has previously criticised the “systematic attacks on fishing in Gaza”, which has seen hundreds of people die from starvation and malnutrition as Israel restricts aid into the Strip.
@yousef_j9000 #بحرغزة_فلسطين_عمان_سوريا_مصر_المغرب_تركيا #بحرغزة#تك_توك #اكسبلورexplore #CapCut
♬ الصوت الأصلي - يــــوســــف
Flotilla organisers issue statement after final vessel intercepted
Friday 3 October 2025 09:45
,
Maira Butt
“Marinette, the last remaining boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla, was intercepted at 10:29am local time, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza,” it wrote in a post on its Telegram channel.
“Over 38 hours, Israeli occupation naval forces illegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels—each carrying humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza.
“Marinette sailed forward with the spirit of sumud—steadfastness—even after seeing the fate of 41 boats before her.
“But this is not the end of our mission. Our determination to confront Israel’s atrocities and stand with the Palestinian people remains unshaken.
“As people rise up in cities worldwide to demand an end to these horrors and to take a stand for humanity, we rise together with one voice: We will not stop until the genocide ends. We will not stop until Palestine is free.”
A two-year UN investigation conclude that Israel is committing a genocide, however the state denies the claims and says they are “false” and “distorted”.
In pictures: Protests erupt across the world after flotilla vessels captured by Israeli military
Friday 3 October 2025 09:36
,
Maira Butt
Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Milan, London, Athens and other major European cities saw the outbreak of protests this week after over 400 volunteers were captured by the Israeli military after trying to take aid to Gaza.
Over 47 nationalities are said to have been represented on the humanitarian mission.
Over 66,000 people have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded as experts have urged urgent intervention for the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Met Police arrest 40 people at London flotilla protests
Friday 3 October 2025 09:20
,
Maira Butt
“A protest organised by the ‘Global Movement for Gaza UK’ took place in Whitehall this evening,” the Met Police wrote on X/Twitter.
“Forty people have been arrested. Six of those arrests were for assaults on police officers while the majority were for breaching conditions [of the Public Order Act, ‘to keep roads open and prevent serious disruption’].”
