Norwegian volunteers report four ships boarded as Gaza flotilla encounter escalates
Norwegian volunteers aboard several ships in a Gaza flotilla say their vessels were boarded by Israeli forces on Wednesday evening. At least four ships were intercepted, and communications with all aboard the ships Alma, Adara, Sirius, and Haga have been lost, according to Susan Abdallah, a spokesperson for the organizing coalition, in an email to NTB on Wednesday night.
Abdallah added that three Norwegians are among those on board these ships: Obaida Farraj, Sunniva Andersen, and Samuel Rostøl. The spokesperson noted that the families of the three have been informed of the situation.
Later on Wednesday evening, Global Sumund Flotilla posted on X that the Israeli military had boarded the convoy. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed in a post on X that several boats in the Gaza flotilla had been boarded and that those aboard were being transported to a port in Israel. The ministry also stated that the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and her travel party, who were traveling with the Alma, are “safe and in good form.”
Earlier, AFP reported that the Israeli navy had warned the flotilla not to enter waters under Israel’s blockade. The flotilla had been hoping to reach Gaza on Thursday, according to Reuters.
Norwegian participants and the trajectory of the voyage
Among the Norwegian participants is Eline Frøysa Norli, 25, who is aboard the flotilla. VG reports she is one of seven Norwegians sailing toward Gaza with emergency relief on board. NRK spoke with Norli two days earlier, noting that the group had left Greek waters on Saturday and was entering what she described as the most dangerous stretch of the journey.
Norli told NRK that the crew and passengers had already faced multiple attacks but remained determined to deliver aid. “We have already been attacked several times, but we are steadfast in trying to reach Gaza with all the emergency aid we have onboard,” she said Monday.
As Wednesday evening progressed, the flotilla’s own communications on X indicated that the voyage would persist despite Israeli actions and the ongoing blockade. In one update, the flotilla stated that “the journey toward Gaza continues in the cover of night.”
Official statements and the broader context
In a strongly worded response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry asserted that the flotilla’s purpose is “only to provoke.” The ministry claimed it had offered peaceful means to deliver any potential aid, with support already extended by Israel, Italy, Greece, and the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, but said the organizers rejected these offers in favor of provoking a confrontation.
The incident highlights the persistent tensions surrounding Gaza aid efforts and the high-risk environment for humanitarian volunteers at sea. The flotilla’s mission has repeatedly faced skepticism and warnings from authorities while drawing support from activists around the world who view it as a symbolic challenge to the blockade.
At present, there is no confirmed information about casualties or the exact status of those on board the captured vessels. Families and supporters continue to monitor updates, while international observers call for calm and adherence to humanitarian principles amid a volatile security situation.
