The Global Sumud Flotilla said the activists on board were carrying food, baby formula and medical aid for Palestinians in Gaza, where living conditions are dire and most of the 2.1m population is displaced, despite the ceasefire agreed by Israel and Hamas last October.
The Israeli foreign ministry described Gaza as “flooded with aid”, saying more than 1.5m tonnes of aid and thousands of tonnes of medical supplies had entered the territory over the past seven months.
The UN said last week that many displaced families in Gaza were still forced to shelter in overcrowded tents or severely damaged structures due to the absence of safer alternatives.
Access to basic services remained limited, with inconsistent availability of clean water and impaired waste management systems that could not meaningfully address public health concerns, including those linked to pests and rodents, it added.
The Gaza war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 72,770 people have been killed, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
