Gaza: A total of 223 international activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid convoy were detained by the Israeli forces, organizers said on Thursday. The Global Sumud Flotilla reported through the US social media company X that 15 boats were confirmed attacked by the Israeli forces since late Wednesday, while eight others are likely to be or currently under attack.

According to Anadolu Agency, the flotilla shared on the US social media company Instagram the names and nationalities of 223 activists aboard the attacked vessels. Meanwhile, the official flotilla tracker indicated that 20 vessels have been attacked by Israeli forces, with 24 others continuing their journey to Gaza.

Erdem Ozveren, a Turkish activist from the global mission, stated that their vessel is less than 30 nautical miles away from Gaza. The flotilla, primarily carrying humanitarian aid and medical supplies, embarked on its journey at the end of August. This marks the first instance in years where more than 50 ships have sailed together towards Gaza, with over 500 civilian supporters from more than 45 countries on board.

Israel has enforced a blockade on Gaza, a region with a population of nearly 2.4 million, for nearly 18 years. The blockade was further tightened in March, with the closure of border crossings and restriction of food and medicine deliveries, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Since October 2023, Israeli bombardments have resulted in the deaths of more than 66,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children. The UN and various rights groups have consistently warned that the enclave is becoming uninhabitable, with starvation and disease spreading at an alarming rate.