Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, which included over 70 boats and aimed to break the naval blockade of Gaza. The interception occurred in international waters near the southern Greek island of Crete, with Israeli authorities detaining approximately 175 activists. The flotilla organizers condemned the action as a dangerous escalation, describing it as the abduction of civilians. Protests erupted in cities worldwide, including Rome and Athens, where supporters rallied for the activists. Countries such as Turkey and Spain condemned the interception, with Spain summoning the Israeli charge d'affaires for a formal protest. Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to prevent arms smuggling by Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. This incident has reignited discussions about the legality of enforcing blockades in international waters, especially given past violent encounters, such as the 2010 Mavi Marmara raid. The flotilla's organizers aim to draw attention to the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where around 2 million residents face severe shortages of food and medicine.