Protesters wave a huge Palestinian flag in front of the Foreign Ministry in Athens on April 30, 2026, to protest the Israeli navy's detention of members of the Global Sumud flotilla off the coast of Crete. (Credit: Aggelos Nakkas/AFP)
Dozens of activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Crete disembarked on Friday in the Greek island, an AFP journalist witnessed.
Escorted by Greek coastguards, around 175 activists, the majority of them nationals of European countries, were taken by coach to the port of Atherinolakkos, in the southeast of the island before being moved to Heraklion, the main city in Crete.
As they approached the port, the activists chanted "Free Palestine," AFP saw.
Israel's Foreign Ministry earlier said around 175 activists had been taken off more than 20 vessels on Thursday by its country's military. Flotilla organizers put the number of "kidnapped" activists at 211.
Spain demanded the immediate release of one of its citizens held by the Israeli authorities.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry said some 20 Turkish nationals in the flotilla who had been detained and taken to Crete would be repatriated. It said "certain participants from third countries" would also be sent to Turkey.
The flotilla comprising more than 50 vessels set sail in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain, and Syracuse in Italy.
Its aim, according to the organizers, was to break the blockade of Gaza and bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.
Israel controls all entry points to Gaza. It has been accused by the United Nations and foreign NGOs of strangling the flow of goods into the territory, causing shortages since the start of Israel's war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in October 2023.
The Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.
Israel's war on Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel.
In the summer and autumn of 2025, a first voyage by the Global Sumud Flotilla across the Mediterranean towards Gaza drew worldwide attention.
The boats in that flotilla were intercepted by Israel off the coasts of Egypt and the Gaza Strip in early October.
Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and then expelled by Israel.
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