October 2, 2025 will go down as one of the most significant days in the global resistance against the Israeli atrocities in Gaza, coming just days before the two-year anniversary of 7 October 2023 – a grim milestone marked by a confirmed death toll that has already exceeded 66,148 Palestinians in Gaza.
For many, the defining moment of the day was the interception of all but one boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) by the Israeli navy. This flotilla, comprising 43 civilian boats and approximately 500 activists – including lawmakers, legal professionals, and climate activist Greta Thunberg – was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The interception occurred 70 nautical miles offshore, in international waters.
Israel had previously stated that it would take all necessary measures to stop the Gaza-bound flotilla, claiming that the volunteers were attempting to “breach a lawful naval blockade.” However, the claim clearly contradicts international law, which allows international aid through.
An Al Jazeera correspondent aboard the flotilla also reported that Israeli naval ships used water cannons against the vessels, disabled their communication systems, and detained volunteers as they sailed toward Gaza in international waters.
Remarkably, despite Israel’s efforts to block them, one vessel from the flotilla appeared to have reached Gaza’s territorial waters. Live tracking data showed the ship positioned just off the coast, although it remained unclear whether it had been intercepted, had slipped through Israeli defences, or if the tracker was inaccurate. Israeli journalist Or Heller, citing the IDF, claimed no vessel had broken through.
Regardless, the ship’s journey – no matter how far it progressed – has become a powerful symbol of hope and defiance, representing a mission that is both a humanitarian effort and a courageous act of resistance against the prolonged blockade that has devastated Gaza’s population.
Another significant moment for Bangladeshis is the participation of renowned photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, who became the first Bangladeshi to join the flotilla. In a Facebook post on Thursday, he shared how his time in remand and jail had prepared him to withstand the harsh conditions aboard the ship.
“This is the choice sleeping area in the ship ‘Conscience’. As the last person to board the ship, I had no space here. I had slept on the open deck last night, but with the storm outside, that option had gone. I found a tiny alcove next to the exit gate. It was noisy and lit up, but my period in remand and jail had prepared me well for these conditions, and I slept like a log!” Alam wrote in the Facebook post.
In another post, Alam also vowed to “sail again, and again, and again.”
Also aboard, though on a different vessel, is Ruhi Loren Akhtar. Born to Bangladeshi parents in Northumberland, UK, she is the founder of Refugee Biriyani & Bananas and has dedicated many years to supporting displaced communities in Gaza and Greece.
Israel’s interception draws global ire
While Israel’s interception of the flotilla drew global attention, the situation on the ground in Gaza was anything but normal. At least 45 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks since dawn on Thursday.
Simultaneously, Israel issued a stark ultimatum to tens of thousands of civilians still in Gaza City, declaring it their “last opportunity” to evacuate or face the “full force” of its assault.
Yet, the flotilla incident has sparked renewed momentum across global civil society – reigniting calls for accountability, an end to the blockade, and a fundamental reassessment of international support for Israel’s policies in Gaza.
The interception has also triggered widespread protests in cities across the world – including Istanbul, Athens, Buenos Aires, Rome, Berlin, and Madrid. In a powerful show of solidarity, Italian trade unions have even called for a general strike on Friday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Maurizio Landini, leader of CGIL – Italy’s largest trade union – warned that intercepting the flotilla would be “an act of war.” He vowed that unions are prepared to mobilise immediately if the flotilla is stopped, participants are arrested, or vessels are seized.
In Rome, hundreds of protesters chanting “let’s block everything” gathered outside Termini station, prompting authorities to restrict access and close several metro stops. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations also took place in Milan, Turin, and Genoa, while protesters in Naples and Pisa briefly occupied station platforms and blocked trains. Thousands more gathered in Bologna, carrying banners and flags in solidarity.
Italian media estimated that around 10,000 people took to the streets of Rome in support of the flotilla. Meanwhile, local television networks speculated on the fate of several Italian parliamentarians who were part of the mission.
A youth coalition in Bangladesh has also announced that it will stage a demonstration today to protest Israel’s attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) and the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The demonstration, organised by the Bangladesh Youth Synergy Alliance, is scheduled to take place on Manik Mia Avenue, starting at 3 pm.
Elsewhere, in response to the boarding of the boats and detention of activists, Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s “attack” on the flotilla as “an act of terror” that endangered innocent lives. Ireland’s foreign minister described the flotilla as a “peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe,” while Sinn Féin representatives accused Israel of “kidnapping” those on board, including an Irish senator.
On Wednesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled all remaining Israeli diplomats, denouncing Israel’s actions as “a new international crime” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Petro, who severed diplomatic ties with Israel last year, also called for the release of two Colombian women detained by Israeli forces while participating in humanitarian activities with Palestine on the flotilla.
Petro had recently criticised Israel’s war in Gaza during a UN speech and called for “criminal proceedings” against Donald Trump over US strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean; the US State Department responded by revoking his visa.
Mexico’s foreign ministry demanded respect for the rights of its citizens aboard the flotilla, and Brazil urged Israel to “immediately and unconditionally lift all restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also condemned the interception, stating, “These vessels carried unarmed civilians and life-saving humanitarian supplies for Gaza, yet they were met with intimidation and coercion.”
Ibrahim’s condemnation came in the face of reports that at least 12 Malaysians had been detained by Israeli forces on Thursday morning. In total, 34 Malaysians are on board, including celebrities, singers, actors, social media influencers, and activists.
Although the UN has not yet issued an official response to the arrests of the activists, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, calling it a violation of international law. She expressed her solidarity with those detained, praising their moral courage in challenging the blockade.
Criticising Western governments for their inaction, Albanese declared: “As I watch Israel’s illegal abduction of the only humans who have risked their lives to break Israel’s unlawful blockade, my thoughts are with the people of Gaza, trapped in Israel’s killing fields. Shame on Western governments first and foremost, and their complicit inaction.”
Notably, efforts to break the blockade of Gaza by sea have been ongoing since 2010, most notably with the deadly Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara, which killed 10 activists and triggered international outrage. In the years that followed, multiple flotillas – including those in 2011, 2015, and 2018 – were intercepted by Israeli forces, often with activists detained and cargo confiscated.
More recently, in 2024 and 2025, new waves of flotilla missions were launched, including the Madleen in June 2025, which was carrying humanitarian aid and activists such as Greta Thunberg. Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen in international waters, reportedly using chemical irritants before detaining and deporting the 12 people on board.
