This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 655 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which provides details on how to contribute via check, credit card, debit card, PayPal, Clover, or Wise. Learn more about why we’re holding this fundraiser, what we’ve accomplished in the past year, and our current goal, supporting our expanded daily Links features.
Yves here. This article sheds light on the current situation regarding Israel’s interception of ships involved in the Sumud Gaza relief effort, though it lacks clarity on future developments. According to Israel, those captured will face trials in Israeli courts, which suggests a dismal fate awaiting them within Israeli jails. The allegations of collaboration with Hamas could lead to them experiencing the harsh treatment that has been condemned by numerous human rights organizations. For example, the BBC reported:
Israel’s leading human rights organization states that conditions in Israeli prisons housing Palestinian detainees amount to torture.
B’tselem’s report titled “Welcome to Hell” includes testimonies from 55 recently released Palestinian detainees, whose accounts indicate a significant deterioration of prison conditions since the onset of the Gaza war 10 months ago.
This represents the latest in a series of reports, including one from the UN last week, containing shocking allegations of mistreatment toward Palestinian prisoners.
B’tselem asserts that the testimonies gathered by their researchers are markedly consistent.
“Repeatedly, they told us the same narrative,” said Yuli Novak, B’tselem’s executive director.
“There’s ongoing abuse, daily violence, physical and psychological torment, humiliation, sleep deprivation, and starvation.”
The interception of these ships has ignited protests across Europe. As news of the mistreatment of these citizens spreads, an escalation in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and port worker embargoes on vessels Israel-bound could be expected.
Conor warned that Italian Prime Minister Meloni might face public backlash if she yields to US pressure and withdraws the Italian navy vessel escorting the Sumud flotilla.
🇮🇹 Italy is on the brink of a general strike. ✊ pic.twitter.com/73VZ3PjA1A
— 𝓙𝓲𝓶𝓶𝔂 𝓙 🫒🗝️🇵🇸 (@JimmyJ4thewin) October 1, 2025
Italy’s largest union, representing over 5.5 million workers, has called for a general strike on Friday to show solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Additionally, smaller Italian unions have expressed their intent to join the CGIL’s strike.
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) October 1, 2025
Recent updates from DJG, Reality Czar:
I’m sharing a screenshot from Arci’s latest e-blast, an association established by communists serving as an umbrella for cultural institutions and social groups. The Karma is the boat supported by Arci.
In Torino, demonstrations took place last night, and another gathering is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. today. Tomorrow, the CGIL union has called for a rally at 9:00 a.m., with additional demonstrations set for 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Stay tuned for updates as events unfold.
Moreover, Giorgia Meloni has made several self-defeating, pity-inducing statements. Not that such rhetoric holds much weight these days.
By Stephen Prager and Jessica Corbett, staff writers at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams
This story is developing… Please check back for updates…
Israel has intercepted multiple boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, resulting in widespread outrage and expressions of solidarity around the world.
“History will favor the flotilla,” remarked former UK Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is still in Parliament. “Their courage will only motivate more individuals to join our global advocacy for Palestine.”
Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the interception, labeling it a “terrorist act… targeting peaceful civilians,” while Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled the entire Israeli diplomatic delegation from his country shortly after the news broke.
In Barcelona, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Israeli consulate in protest, with similar demonstrations occurring in other major cities, including Istanbul and Brussels.
BREAKING: Large-scale demonstration in Brussels this evening in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which has started to be intercepted by Israeli forces.
The protesters are marching from Place Bourse towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. pic.twitter.com/uEzDfLsYz6
— Muhammad Yasir (@YasirHajana) October 1, 2025
The Guardian reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had boarded at least two vessels approximately 75 miles from Gaza. A livestream from the flotilla indicated that signals from boat after boat went dark as the convoy was encircled by over 20 Israeli naval vessels.
According to Drop Site News—whose editor Alex Colston has been reporting from one of the vessels—by midnight local time, at least six boats from the flotilla had been intercepted and boarded by the IDF.
After midnight, a sailor on the livestream reported that Israeli ships were spraying the flotilla boats with water cannons. By 1:00 a.m., the stream only displayed the Meteque, where sailors were compelled to raise their hands as the IDF commanded them to halt their engine.
Sailors on the Meteque, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, raised their hands above their heads as Israeli forces commanded them to halt their engine near the Gaza coast at around 1:00 am local time on October 2, 2025. (Photo: screenshot/Global Sumud Flotilla/Youtube)
In an earlier video, Brazilian organizer Thiago Ávila received an intercom message from an IDF soldier instructing the flotilla to turn back.
“You are entering an active war zone,” the soldier warned over the intercom. “If you attempt to breach the naval blockade, we will seize your vessel and pursue legal action in court.”
In response, Ávila cited the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures regarding Gaza and the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He implored Israeli forces to “stand down,” “refrain from committing another war crime,” and “not interfere with our peaceful, nonviolent, humanitarian mission for the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
Thiago Avila, a member of the Global Sumud Flotilla, confronts an IDF soldier who instructed them to turn around: pic.twitter.com/RFG1aZW5XU
— Global Sumud Flotilla Commentary (@GlobalSumudF) October 1, 2025
In a brave show of defiance, participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla chant in support of Palestine despite the presence of Israeli naval ships. pic.twitter.com/43CC1NmCun
— Fadi Daoud (@fjadaoud) October 1, 2025
The flotilla comprises over 40 civilian boats carrying hundreds of humanitarians, journalists, and notable figures from various countries. Among them are the late South African President Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela; American actress Susan Sarandon; former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau; and numerous other European politicians.
Another video captured the moment when the flotilla’s prominent participant, 22-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, was detained by an IDF soldier.
The Israeli Navy has apprehended Greta Thunberg aboard the Sumud aid flotilla. pic.twitter.com/kkwYcpgGw9
— Séamus Malekafzali (@Seamus_Malek) October 1, 2025
The flotilla embarked from Barcelona several weeks ago in response to Israel’s near-total blockade on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, which has led to widespread starvation. A group of United Nations experts warned in early September that any attempt by Israel to halt the vessels delivering aid “would constitute a grave violation of international law and humanitarian principles.”
The flotilla members have faced numerous threats from the Israeli government throughout their journey toward Gaza, which has sought to malign their humanitarian mission as an effort to promote Hamas’s agenda.
Just last week, while still near the coast of Greece, the flotilla was besieged by drones and attacked with flash-bang grenades believed to have been launched by Israeli forces, known for targeting such missions. Initially, both Italy and Spain sent naval vessels to safeguard the flotilla; however, these protective vessels have since turned back as the boats approached Gaza.
Israel’s actions against the Global Sumud Flotilla mirror earlier interceptions of multiple boats from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition heading to Gaza earlier this year. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, stated on Wednesday that “once again, the Israeli occupation has shown its willingness to kidnap humanitarian activists and engage in piracy in international waters to uphold its lawless blockade of the Palestinian people.”
“Every nation that professes to value international law should denounce this unlawful assault on the Global Sumud Flotilla and take decisive steps to break the siege of Gaza,” he emphasized. “In the case of Western nations, anti-Palestinian racism and pressure from pro-Israel lobby groups clearly underpin their ongoing complicity.”
“We applaud the participants in the flotilla for their bravery,” he added, “demand their immediate release, and call on the international community, encompassing Western, Arab, and Muslim nations, to take action against the Israeli occupation and its crimes.”
–––––––
Update: 11:15 AM EDT: The Wall Street Journal reports that, contrary to Israel’s earlier threats, it will be deporting rather than prosecuting the activists.
