Israeli forces have intercepted and detained the crews of at least 22 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla near the Greek island of Crete, which was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The flotilla, comprising about 58 vessels with participants from 70 countries, departed from Italy on Sunday. Organizers labeled the interception as a dangerous escalation, claiming it involved the abduction of civilians in international waters. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported controlling more than 20 boats with approximately 175 activists onboard. They urged the vessels to change course and use established channels for aid delivery. The flotilla described the interception as a violent raid, with claims of damaged engines and jamming of communications. Turkey's foreign ministry condemned the interception as piracy, while Italy demanded the release of its nationals. The UN special rapporteur questioned the legality of Israel's actions in international waters, highlighting ongoing humanitarian issues in Gaza, which has been under blockade since 2007.