Israeli naval forces intercepted 41 boats belonging to the so-called “Global Steadfast Fleet” heading to Gaza, carrying humanitarian aid and more than 400 foreign activists, according to an Israeli official.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the navy on Thursday for intercepting the convoy, stating, “Their important efforts prevented dozens of boats from entering the combat zone and thwarted attempts to delegitimize Israel.”

Live footage from cameras on the boats showed Israeli soldiers wearing helmets and night-vision goggles boarding the vessels, while activists from 47 countries gathered together wearing life jackets with their hands raised.

The Global Steadfast Fleet said in a Thursday statement that hundreds of participants aboard the fleet’s ships were “kidnapped and transferred to a large naval ship after being attacked with water cannons.”

They described the Israeli forces’ detention of participants as “illegal kidnapping and a direct violation of international law and fundamental human rights,” adding that “intercepting humanitarian relief ships in international waters is a war crime, and preventing lawyers from attending and hiding the fate of the detainees exacerbates this crime.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all activists are safe and in good health and have been transferred to Israel, where they are being interrogated by Israeli police in preparation for deportation to Europe. It stated that none of the fleet’s boats succeeded in entering what it called an “active combat zone.”

It added that what it described as the “provocation of the Hamas-Steadfast Fleet” has ended.

Israeli immigration authorities have begun holding hearings on deportation orders for the activists and detaining them at Ashdod port without prior notification to their lawyers and preventing them from obtaining legal representation, according to Adalah Center, the legal representative of the activists.

The Hamas movement described Israel’s interception of the Steadfast Fleet heading to Gaza as “an act of piracy and maritime terrorism against civilians,” calling on “all defenders of freedom worldwide” to condemn it.

In a statement, Hamas said the operation in international waters and the arrest of activists and journalists aboard the ships represent “a treacherous aggressive act added to Israel’s black record of crimes.”

It added that it “salutes” the activists and their determination to break the siege on the “people of Gaza,” urging “free people worldwide to organize popular events and protests condemning this crime and demanding its immediate cessation.”

Global Outcry Over Interception of Steadfast Fleet

Protests erupted in several cities worldwide against Israel’s interception of the ships belonging to the Global Steadfast Fleet, with demonstrators blocking traffic and vandalizing shops and restaurants.

Israel faced international condemnation in response to its interception of the fleet, with European and Arab capitals denouncing the Israeli actions as another violation of all international and humanitarian laws.

In Barcelona, protesters smashed storefronts and restaurants and scrawled anti-Israel slogans, accusing Israel of complicity in the Israeli attack on Gaza.

In Italy, university students, including those from Statale University in Milan and La Sapienza University in Rome, occupied campuses and blocked access to the University of Bologna using car tires, according to video footage. Hundreds also blocked the ring road in Turin.

Italian unions called for a general strike on Friday in support of the Gaza aid fleet, with over 100 marches or rallies expected across the country.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto criticized the disturbances caused by some protesters, tweeting, “Does anyone really think that closing a station, airport, highway, or destroying a shop in Italy will ease the Palestinian people?”

Thousands also took to the streets in Dublin, Paris, Berlin, and Geneva to condemn Israel’s interception of the fleet. Marches were also organized in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Karachi.

In Istanbul, a crowd gathered in front of the Israeli embassy holding signs with slogans such as “Israel is slaughtering humanity, not Gaza. Don’t be silent, don’t sit down, stand up.”

Diplomatically, Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of all remaining members of the Israeli diplomatic mission in the country following Israel’s “international crime” in intercepting the aid fleet heading to Gaza.

Spain summoned the acting head of the Israeli embassy after the interception of the aid fleet bound for Gaza.

Belgium also summoned the Israeli ambassador following the detention of seven Belgian citizens aboard the Steadfast Fleet ships.

Last Ship

Omani activist Omama Al Lawati, aboard the Marinta ship (the only vessel not yet intercepted), told BBC Arabic that her boat is expected to reach Gaza’s shores by midday Friday.

She explained that the boat, carrying six people, stopped for two days on the island of Crete to repair a malfunction, which delayed it from the fleet’s route.

Commenting on the interception of the other fleet boats, she said, “We are also prepared for the same fate and expect it, but perhaps we have hope—being a small sailing boat—that we can reach Gaza.”

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already threatened to intercept the Marinta ship, saying, “There is still one last ship from the fleet sailing far away, and we will intercept it as it approaches Gaza’s shores.”

The Marinta carries activists of Turkish, German, Australian, and Omani nationalities.

Two other ships had diverged from the fleet’s route as they provided logistical support to the fleet, including the “Shireen Abu Aqleh” ship.

“We Had Hoped to Welcome the Steadfast Fleet on Gaza’s Shore”

Children in Gaza expressed deep sadness over the interception of the Steadfast Fleet by the Israeli navy, as it represented hope for them to receive food and drink.

One child in Gaza told BBC Middle East Diaries, “I was very sad about the interception of the fleet. I hoped to welcome them on Gaza’s shore.”

He added, “We live under a constant siege, even in the years before the war. We suffer from hunger.”

A girl said, “We hoped the convoy would arrive to break the siege because we are living a great famine. We need food and drink.”

Another girl revealed that children in Gaza live in difficult conditions with no food or drink, adding, “We hope to live like other children in the world.”

Another child from the Gaza Strip expressed hope that the remaining fleet ships would reach the sector, loaded with milk and food.