Gaza: The Global Sumud Flotilla on Friday called on governments to pressure Israel to release detainees from its Gaza-bound mission, saying two activists remain in custody. In a statement, the group said most participants who had been detained were released in Crete, but two individuals - identified as Thiago and Saif - are still being held.

According to Anadolu Agency, the flotilla urged all governments to exert pressure on the Israeli regime to release what they termed "illegal abductees." On Thursday, Israel's Foreign Ministry reported that 175 activists had been detained after more than 20 vessels were seized in international waters while en route to the Gaza Strip.

The flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, aims to break Israel's blockade and establish a humanitarian corridor by sea. This mission marks the second initiative by the Global Sumud Flotilla, following a previous attempt in September 2025 that ended with an Israeli interception in international waters and the detention of hundreds of international activists.

In October 2023, Israel launched a war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in more than 72,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and the destruction of about 90% of the enclave's infrastructure. The United Nations estimates reconstruction costs at around $70 billion. Since 2007, Israel has imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving about 1.5 million Palestinians homeless out of roughly 2.4 million after the conflict.