87 Gaza Flotilla Activists Launch Hunger Strike as Israel Transfers 430 Detainees
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 20
87 Gaza Flotilla Activists Launch Hunger Strike as Israel Transfers 430 Detainees
7 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 20
At least 87 activists seized from the Gaza aid flotilla began a hunger strike after Israeli forces intercepted the last vessel, Lina al-Nabulsi, in international waters late Tuesday.
Organisers said the strike protests what they called an illegal abduction and shows solidarity with more than 9,500 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Israel said all 430 activists from the flotilla had been transferred to Israeli vessels and were being taken to Israel to meet consular representatives, dismissing the mission as a "PR stunt."
The flotilla of more than 50 boats had sailed from Marmaris in Turkiye to challenge Gaza's blockade; organisers said Israeli forces began raiding vessels off Cyprus on Monday and fired rubber bullets.
Indonesia said nine of its citizens were detained and demanded all vessels be released, while Turkiye, Spain, Jordan and others condemned the interceptions as violations of international and humanitarian law.
With international courts ruling against the occupation, why do flotilla interceptions in international waters persist?
Why is the US sanctioning aid activists as famine is officially confirmed in Gaza?
Are aid flotillas an effective protest or a predictable and tragic political ritual?
The 2026 Global Sumud Flotilla: Interceptions, Hunger Strikes, and the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Overview
The Global Sumud Flotilla set out to deliver aid to Gaza but was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece on April 30, 2026. While most of the 180 activists were sent to Crete, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila were detained in Israel, where they began a hunger strike to protest their treatment. This hunger strike followed a tradition among flotilla participants and pro-Palestine activists, with previous cases in the UK resulting in serious health consequences. The incident highlights the ongoing use of hunger strikes as a form of resistance and the challenges faced by activists trying to break the Gaza blockade.