“Once again, a provocation for the sake of provocation,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
By United with Israel Staff
Israeli naval forces on Monday launched an operation to take control of a flotilla sailing from Turkey toward the Gaza Strip in a coordinated attempt to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade.
The vessels, part of the so-called “Global Sumud Flotilla,” departed over the weekend from the southern Turkish port of Marmaris. Dozens of boats carrying hundreds of activists were involved, including participants linked to Turkish groups with a history of confrontations with Israeli forces.
The operation began without incident, with naval troops boarding several vessels after instructing those onboard to raise their hands.
The flotilla is believed to include 58 vessels, with at least 15 affiliated with the Turkish organization IHH, which has previously been tied to the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident.
Several hundred participants are believed to be onboard, including a significant number of Turkish nationals, raising concerns that the convoy could escalate into a violent confrontation.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the effort as a staged provocation rather than a genuine humanitarian mission, arguing that the flotilla’s purpose is to generate publicity and divert attention from Hamas’ refusal to disarm.
“Once again, a provocation for the sake of provocation,” the ministry said, noting that Gaza continues to receive large quantities of aid through established international channels.
Once again, a provocation for the sake of provocation: another so-called “humanitarian aid flotilla” with no humanitarian aid. This time, two violent Turkish groups – Mavi Marmara and IHH, the latter designated as a terrorist organization – are part of the provocation.
The…
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) May 18, 2026
More than 1.5 million tons of humanitarian aid have entered Gaza since October 2025, calling into question the flotilla organizers’ claims.
Israel has repeatedly stated that it will not allow any breach of the naval blockade, which it says is essential to preventing weapons smuggling to Hamas.
The current operation marks the third attempt this year by pro-Palestinian activists to send flotillas toward Gaza, following two earlier efforts that were intercepted before reaching the enclave.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu monitored the developments from the Navy’s command center in Tel Aviv.
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