Israel Intercepts Gaza-Bound Aid Flotilla With 31 Activists Injured During Boarding

Israeli naval forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla on April 30 in international waters near Crete, using drones, communications jamming, and armed boarding parties to seize 22 vessels, according to organizers and Reuters. The flotilla committee reported 31 activists injured across more than a dozen nationalities and said detainees spent nearly 40 hours aboard an Israeli naval vessel denied food and water. Of roughly 170 detained crew, 168 were taken to Crete via Greek coastguard; two, Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, were transported to Israel. Adalah attorneys told Al Jazeera both reported severe beatings causing repeated loss of consciousness during naval detention; both appeared in Ashkelon court on May 3, where the court extended detention two days on terrorist affiliation allegations, with no charges filed.