Hit, but not sunk. Part of the international flotilla in support of Gaza continued its journey toward the Palestinian territory at dawn on Thursday, October 2, despite the interception of several of its boats by Israel the previous evening. The operation took place illegally in international waters. "Several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port," Israel's foreign affairs ministry wrote on X on Wednesday night. "Greta and her friends are safe and healthy," the message continued, accompanied by a short video showing Swedish activist Greta Thunberg retrieving personal belongings while surrounded by armed men. According to Israel, passengers from the intercepted vessels will be deported to Europe.

Overwhelmed by the number of boats attempting to breach the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli navy, which worked throughout the night to stop the vessels of the Global Sumud ("resilience" in Arabic) flotilla, had not managed to fully stem their progress by the early hours of the morning. It represents a symbolic victory for the activist coalition, which aims to "break the blockade" and "deliver food, medication and water to a besieged and starving population."

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