Sumud Flotilla stopped by force. Dozens of injured activists, including a Pole

34 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla transporting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, detained on Thursday by Israeli forces off the coast of Crete, were hospitalized. Among them is one person of Polish nationality, representatives of the organization announced on Friday at an online press conference.

On Thursday, Israel announced that its military detained about 175 activists on about 20 ships in international waters off the coast of Crete. According to the flotilla's organizers, Israel detained 211 activists. Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, transporting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, detained by Israeli forces, found themselves on the Greek island of Crete on Friday, AFP reported. The Israeli military handed over approximately 170 people to the Greek Coast Guard, two are still detained. Among the detained activists is a Polish woman, Magdalena Górska, working as an assistant professor at the University of Utrecht.

At Friday's press conference, representatives of the Sumud Global Flotilla said that 34 activists were injured and are in hospital. We managed to determine the nationality of 31 of them: 4 people from Australia, 2 from Canada, 1 from Hungary, 2 from the Netherlands, 4 from New Zealand, 2 from Spain, 1 from Ukraine, 2 from Germany, 1 from France, 1 from Poland, 2 from Great Britain, 2 from Colombia, 3 from Italy, 3 from the United States, 1 from Portugal.

Drama in international waters

On Thursday, several European countries whose citizens were among those detained by Israel called for their release. Ten countries, including Spain, Türkiye and Pakistan, issued a joint statement condemning Israel's “gross violations of international law.”

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday afternoon that “the safety of Polish citizens participating in the Sumud Global Flotilla initiative was the subject of discussions with the charge d'affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw.” “The consular and diplomatic services remain on full alert,” the Ministry of Diplomacy assured on Platform X.

In an earlier statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that it was monitoring with concern reports of actions taken by the Israeli armed forces against activists participating in the cruise. According to the ministry, activists also include citizens of the Republic of Poland. Ministry spokesman Maciej Wewiór told journalists that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not providing their number yet because it is still being checked.

International condemnation following Israel's action

The Global Sumud Flotilla organized a similar action in the fall of 2025. Nearly 500 people set off for the Gaza Strip. The convoy was stopped by the Israeli navy, the activists were captured, taken to Israel, and then deported.

The organizers of the flotilla declare that they want to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and symbolically break the Israeli naval blockade. Israel says it maintains the blockade legally, although the legality of these actions is disputed.

In the years 2023-2025, the war between Israel and Hamas continued in the Gaza Strip, which – as the UN emphasizes – led to a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the Palestinian authorities, at least 72,000 people died during this period as a result of the actions of Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. people. The Israeli offensive was in retaliation for the Hamas attack on Israel in early October 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people. (PAP)

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