The organisers of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza said on ​Tuesday Israeli forces had intercepted 41 ‌of their boats in the eastern Mediterranean, with 10 vessels still sailing toward the enclave.

The ​closest vessel to Gaza, Sirius, was ​145 nautical miles away, the group ⁠said.

Israel’s foreign ministry had said on X ​on Monday that it “will not allow any ​breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza”.

Speaking in Ankara late on Monday, Turkish President Tayyip ​Erdogan condemned the intervention against the “voyagers ​of hope” in the flotilla and called on ‌the ⁠international community to act against Israel’s actions.

Ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla had set sail for a third time on ​Thursday from ​southern Turkiye, ⁠after earlier attempts to deliver aid to Gaza were intercepted by Israel in international waters.

The group said ​there ⁠were 426 people taking part in the 54-vessel flotilla from 39 countries.

Israel’s foreign ministry ⁠has ​called on “all participants in ​this provocation to change course and turn back immediately”.