Israel illegally intercept Gaza-bound flotilla on international waters

Aaron White, who was sent back to Türkiye after Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, says activists risked their lives to break the blockade and deliver aid.

Demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags clash with riot police outside the Israeli Embassy, as anger over Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza boils over in the Greek capital.

The organisers say all aid vessels have been intercepted and most livestreams were disconnected.

US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Egypt on Wednesday to join Gaza ceasefire talks, Axios reported.

According to the report, senior US officials expressed cautious optimism about reaching a deal this week and emphasised that Kushner and Witkoff will not leave Egypt without an agreement to release the hostages and end the war.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is also expected to join the negotiations in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh.

On September 29, Trump unveiled a 20-point proposal that includes the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas, and the rebuilding of Gaza. Hamas agreed to the plan in principle.

Israeli naval forces attacked all nine ships of the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Thousand Madleens to Gaza mission early Wednesday in international waters, about 120 nautical miles from the enclave, the coalition said.

“The Israeli occupation commits a war crime again in international waters,” the International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza said on X. The vessels, carrying $110,000 worth of medical aid, were seized and taken to an Israeli port, where activists are to be deported.

The latest convoy set sail after Israeli naval forces attacked and seized more than 40 boats last week, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has launched dozens of missions aimed at delivering medicine and supplies to Gaza’s hospitals and challenge Israeli blockade.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper discussed efforts to end the war in Gaza and President Donald Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan, the State Department said.

In a phone call, Rubio and Cooper "emphasised the importance of ending the war in Gaza by implementing President Trump's 20-point plan for peace and securing the release of all hostages" Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a readout.

Gaza Government Media Office says in the past four days, Israel carried out over 230 air and artillery strikes targeting densely populated civilian areas.