Israeli Officials Say Gaza Flotilla Linked to Terrorist Organizations

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country would not permit vessels to enter an active combat zone or to breach its naval blockade.

A handout image of the boat named Ahed Tamimi sailing in the waters off the island of Crete, which is to join the Global Sumud Flotilla, as seen from the boat Vangelis Pissias on Sept. 25, 2025. March To Gaza Greece/Handout via Reuters

Israeli officials on Sept. 25 accused the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of about 50 boats trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, of operating under the cover of humanitarian work while serving the interests of the Hamas terrorist group and other armed groups.

At a press conference in Jerusalem, Israeli intelligence analyst Ziv Haba and Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Eden Bar Tal presented what they described as evidence tying flotilla organizers to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the Hezbollah terrorist organization.