Israeli naval forces have intercepted vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla as they attempted to breach the naval blockade of Gaza.

“The Israeli Navy has reached out to the Hamas-Sumud flotilla and asked them to change course. Israel has informed the flotilla that it is approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade. Israel reiterated the offer to transfer any aid peacefully through safe channels to Gaza,” the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Despite these repeated offers, flotilla organisers refused, preferring instead to press ahead with a naval confrontation in a deliberate attempt to manufacture outrage rather than deliver relief.

The alleged aim of the flotilla is to break the Israeli naval blockade around Gaza.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry further confirmed that passengers from the flotilla: “are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and in good health.” Jerusalem has emphasised that all humanitarian cargo will be inspected and redirected to humanitarian relief efforts through established mechanisms.

Greece and Italy, in a joint declaration, confirmed they are: “closely monitoring developments” and stressed that Israel must: “ensure the safety and security of the participants” while allowing consular access.

The declaration also underlined support for humanitarian assistance to Gaza, but called for it to be delivered: “through safe and coordinated mechanisms” rather than attempts to run a blockade.

Prior to the interception of the flotilla, Israel said that it had found documents in Gaza which linked the flotilla to Hamas. Israel says those documents are being released for the first time in response to the flotilla’s refusal to alter course or accept neutral channels through which to deliver aid.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the documents: “show a direct link between the flotilla leaders and the Hamas terrorist organization.”

According to the ministry, the documents included a 2021 letter signed by Hamas political bureau head Ismail Haniyeh endorsing the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), an organisation Israel designated as a terrorist group in 2021.

A second document reportedly identified PCPA operatives, some of whom are high-ranking members of Hamas, who have been long associated with organising various flotillas to Gaza, and linked one operative to a front company alleged to own vessels in the flotilla.