The Israeli military has intercepted a humanitarian flotilla, the Global Sumud Flotilla, in the Mediterranean Sea, using drones, communications jamming, and armed personnel, media reports said on Thursday.

The flotilla, which consists of 58 vessels carrying activists and aid, was en route to Gaza from Italy when it was surrounded by Israeli military boats.

According to the flotilla organisers, Israeli forces approached the boats with speedboats, pointed lasers at the participants, and ordered them to kneel.

“Israeli military boats surrounded us illegally in international waters, threatening violence and kidnapping,” the flotilla said in a social media post.

Reports suggest that communication with 11 of the flotilla’s ships was lost, and Israeli media claim that seven boats have been captured near the Greek island of Crete.

The flotilla’s spokesperson, Gur Tsabar, described the interception as “a direct attack on unarmed civilian boats in international waters,” emphasising that Israel’s actions were illegal under international law.

Tariq Ra’ouf, an activist on board one of the boats, recounted how Israeli military ships deployed smaller boats to surround their vessels.

He said that the flotilla’s communication channels were jammed by Israeli forces, who broadcast music as a psychological tactic.

Reacting to the development, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, described the flotilla as a “group of delusional agitators” and claimed that the mission was stopped before reaching Israeli territory.

However, the flotilla argued that the interception occurred far from Gaza, in waters where Israel has no jurisdiction.

The flotilla’s mission is one of the largest attempts to deliver aid to Gaza, where ongoing Israeli military operations have resulted in significant casualties.

Last October, Israel similarly intercepted another flotilla, arresting over 450 activists.

With the vessels still surrounded, flotilla leaders are calling on international governments to intervene and protect the over 400 civilians onboard, citing violations of international law.