In what has been described as a historic yet controversial move, the Mikeno, a vessel belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla, reportedly sailed into Gaza’s territorial waters on Thursday, marking what organizers hailed as the first civilian ship to breach Israel’s long-standing blockade.
The flotilla, made up of over 40 small boats carrying humanitarian supplies and activists from different parts of the world, set sail with the stated mission of challenging Israel’s naval restrictions on Gaza. According to live tracking shared by organizers and activist videos, the Mikeno briefly crossed the 12-nautical-mile threshold that marks Gaza’s territorial limit, before Israeli naval forces launched a large-scale interception.
Israel, however, disputed the claim, insisting that no vessel broke the blockade. The Israeli Navy said it intercepted the flotilla before it could enter restricted waters, boarding several boats and redirecting them to Israeli ports. Officials accused the flotilla of being a “provocation under the guise of humanitarian aid,” while maintaining that all necessary assistance to Gaza is coordinated through established channels.
Reports indicate that hundreds of activists—estimated between 400 and 500—were detained during the naval operation. Among the detainees were prominent international figures, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and European parliamentarians. Israel confirmed that the participants will be processed and deported.
The mission has drawn sharp international reactions. Human rights groups condemned Israel’s actions, calling for the urgent establishment of safe humanitarian corridors to Gaza. Protests erupted in several world capitals, with demonstrators holding placards demanding an end to what they termed the “collective punishment” of Gaza’s population.
Meanwhile, flotilla organizers described the Mikeno’s breakthrough as a “turning point in the global struggle against the blockade.” They argued that even if the ship was eventually stopped, its entry into Gaza’s waters served as a powerful symbolic act of resistance and solidarity with the besieged enclave.
The controversy leaves unanswered questions: whether the Mikeno truly succeeded in reaching Gaza’s territorial waters, the exact condition of the seized vessels, and the fate of the humanitarian cargo on board.
What is clear, however, is that the episode has once again ignited global debate over the legality and humanitarian impact of Israel’s blockade on Gaza—a policy in place since 2007 and repeatedly challenged by international activists.