ISRAELI forces illegally intercepted one of the remaining Gaza flotilla boats today, stopping the vessel when it was about 82 nautical miles (some 95 miles) from Gaza in international waters, according to the flotilla’s tracker website.

A livestream on the website showed Israeli forces in a dinghy pulling up to the boat, called the Andros, and activists with their arms in the air.

The screen then went dark, with a message saying the boat had been intercepted.

A handful of ships were still within 100 nautical miles of Gaza and sailing towards it this afternoon.

The Israeli navy’s latest action came the day after it had illegally stopped and boarded the activist flotilla in international waters off Cyprus.

It was the latest attempt by the Global Sumud Flotilla to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and underscore the grim living conditions of Palestinians living in the territory.

Dozens of vessels left the Turkish port of Marmaris last week, in what flotilla organisers described as the final leg of their planned journey to Gaza’s shores.

Some 41 boats were intercepted on Monday, with another 10 continuing to sail before the Andros interception, according to Global Sumud Flotilla’s tracker.

Israel has maintained a sea blockade of Gaza since 2007, tightening it in the aftermath of the October 7 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel, during which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage. 

Many observers say the blockade amounts to collective punishment of Palestinians.

Israel says the blockade is meant to prevent Hamas from receiving arms supplies. 

The flotilla organisers said they expect edthe activists to be taken to Ashdod, in southern Israel. 

Activists on previous flotillas were brought to the same port, where many allege that they were assaulted in custody before being processed and deported.

Italy said its Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had repeatedly demanded assurances from the Israeli authorities regarding the wellbeing of detained Italian activists aboard the flotilla.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry urged Israel to release all the detained activists, including two of its nationals.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said he had summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires in Madrid on Monday over what he called “a new violation of international law.” 

He estimated there were around 45 Spanish nationals in the flotilla, of whom between 10 and 20 were being detained.

On Monday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry described the flotilla as “a provocation for the sake of provocation.”