2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla

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Gaza Flotilla Route Gaza Flotilla Route.jpg
Gaza Flotilla Route

The 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was a small fleet of ships by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (İHH) carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials with the intention of breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. [1] [2] [3] In typical circumstances, aid is first brought to Israel to be inspected and then transferred to Gaza. [4]

Contents

On 31 May 2010, Israeli forces boarded the ships in a raid from speedboats and helicopters. Following resistance on one of the boats, nine activists were killed by Israeli forces. Widespread international condemnation of and reaction to the raid followed, Israel–Turkey relations were strained, and Israel subsequently eased its blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Overview

The flotilla was the Free Gaza Movement's ninth attempt to break the naval blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip. [5] Israel proposed inspecting the cargo at the Port of Ashdod and then delivering non-blockaded goods through land crossings, but this proposal was turned down. [6] Israeli forces then raided and seized the Gaza-bound ships in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. [7]

Five shipments had been allowed through prior to the 2008–09 Gaza War, but all shipments following the war were blocked by Israel. [8] This flotilla was the largest to date. An Islamic aid group from Turkey, the İHH (İnsani Yardım Vakfı) (Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief) sponsored a large passenger ship and two cargo ships.

While the UN's official report found Israel's blockade of Gaza to be legal, [9] [10] another set of UN experts, reporting to the Human Rights Council, came to the opposite conclusion finding that it violated international law. [11]

Organization

Ships

The ships of the Gaza flotilla raid comprised three passenger ships and three cargo ships:

Two other Free Gaza Movement ships, Challenger 2 (USA flagged) and MV Rachel Corrie (Cambodia flagged) were behind the rest of the flotilla due to mechanical problems. There have been claims this was due to Israeli sabotage. [13] Challenger 2 aborted,[ citation needed ] but the Rachel Corrie continued its journey. [14]

Flag Name Organisation Port PassengersCrewCargo
Flag of the United States.svg USA Challenger 1 Free Gaza Movement Heraklion
Flag of the United States.svg USA Challenger 2 Free Gaza Movement Heraklion
Flag of Greece.svg Greece MS Eleftheri MesogeiosGreek Ship to Gaza Piraeus Wheelchairs, building materials, medicine [15]
Flag of Greece.svg Greece SfendoniGreek Ship to Gaza,
European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza		 Piraeus
Flag of the Comoros.svg Comoros MV Mavi Marmara IHH Antalya 581
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey Gazze IHH Antalya 5132,104 tons of cement, 600 tons of construction steel, and 50 tons of tiles [16]
Flag of Kiribati.svg Kiribati MV Defne Y IHH Antalya 2723150 tons of iron, 98 power units, 50 precast homes, 16 units of children's playground equipment, food, shoes, medicine, wheelchairs, clothing items, notebooks and textbooks [16] [17]
Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia MV Rachel Corrie Free Gaza Movement Dundalk 118550 tons of cement, 20 tons of paper, 100 tons of high-end medical equipment, wheelchairs, books, fabric, and thread

Cargo

Three of the flotilla ships carried only passengers and their personal belongings, while three other ships carried 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid, with an estimated value of $20 million. The cargo included food, wheelchairs, books, toys, electricity generators, operating theater equipment, medicines, [18] [19] medical equipment, textiles, footwear, cash, mobility scooters, sofas, and building materials, such as cement, [20] which are prohibited under the Israeli blockade, although Israel offered to allow the cement to enter Gaza, if the flotilla were to dock in Ashdod.[ citation needed ]

Night vision binoculars found on the deck of the Mavi Marmara, along with a scope to be mounted on a sniper rifle, according to IDF Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Combat Gear Found Aboard the Mavi Marmara (1).jpg
Night vision binoculars found on the deck of the Mavi Marmara, along with a scope to be mounted on a sniper rifle, according to IDF
Knives, wrenches, and wooden clubs used to attack the soldiers during the flotilla raid, according to IDF Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Weaponry Used by Passengers Aboard the Mavi Marmara (2).jpg
Knives, wrenches, and wooden clubs used to attack the soldiers during the flotilla raid, according to IDF
Bulletproof vests found on the deck of the Marmara, according to IDF Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Combat Gear Found Aboard the Mavi Marmara.jpg
Bulletproof vests found on the deck of the Marmara, according to IDF

Israeli news reported the flotilla to be carrying ballistic vests, gas masks, night-vision goggles, clubs, and slingshots, [21] although the UNHRC report does not mention these items [22] and in the Turkish Report on the Israeli attack on the Humanitarian Aid Convoy to Gaza it states that all passengers and crew as well as the cargo were searched to international standards and no weapons were found, on the ships departing from Turkey. [23]

Seen here are many boxes of expired medicine which were to be delivered as aid by the Gaza flotilla. Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Expired Medicine Unloaded Off Gaza Flotillas (3).jpg
Seen here are many boxes of expired medicine which were to be delivered as aid by the Gaza flotilla.

Two-thirds of the medicines delivered by the flotilla expired between six and fifteen months prior to the raid, [24] and were found to be useless. [25] Operating theater equipment, which was supposed to be kept sterile, was carelessly wrapped. The expiring medications and sensitive equipment were kept in frozen storage in the Israeli Defense Ministry before delivery to Gaza. [26]

Passengers

In previous voyages, Free Gaza vessels carried 140 passengers in total. In this flotilla, over 600 activists were on board the Mavi Marmara alone. [27] There were 663 passengers from 37 nations on board the flotilla. [7] Notable people aboard the flotilla included former UN Assistant Secretary-General Denis Halliday, former U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania Edward Peck, and USS Liberty survivor Joe Meadors. [28] Israeli-Arab member of Knesset Haneen Zoubi, leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel Raed Salah, Swedish novelist Henning Mankell, convicted hijacker Erdinç Tekir, who participated in the Black Sea hijacking, [29] and a number of parliamentarians from European and Arab national legislatures and the European Parliament. [30] [31]

Ties with groups marked as terror organizations

In June 2010 U.S. Assistant Secretary of State P. J. Crowley told reporters Wednesday: "'We know that IHH representatives have met with senior Hamas officials in Turkey, Syria and Gaza over the past three years,'" and "'That is obviously of great concern to us.'" [32]

The AP was quoted on MSNBC: "The Turkish Islamic charity behind a flotilla of aid ships that was raided by Israeli forces on its way to Gaza had ties to terrorism networks, including a 1999 al-Qaida plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport, France's former top anti-terrorism judge said Wednesday." [33]

In June 2012 it was reported that the IHH director Fehmi Bülent Yıldırım is reportedly being investigated by Turkish authorities for allegedly creating a financial partnership with al-Qaeda. [34]

Motives

In a still taken from video footage filmed on the deck of the ship, activists on the Mavi Marmara throw a stun grenade at Israeli Navy commando soldiers. Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Passengers Use Violence on the Mavi Marmara.jpg
In a still taken from video footage filmed on the deck of the ship, activists on the Mavi Marmara throw a stun grenade at Israeli Navy commando soldiers.
Footage taken from the Mavi Marmara security cameras shows the activists preparing to fight Israeli soldiers. Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Mavi Marmara Activists Prepare to Attack IDF Soldiers (1).jpg
Footage taken from the Mavi Marmara security cameras shows the activists preparing to fight Israeli soldiers.

According to an early IDF press release, the ship carried 75 mercenaries with links to al-Qaeda and other terror organizations, who carried $10,000 apiece on their persons. [35] The claim was never substantiated and was later withdrawn. [36] Israel has said that the group boarded separately in a different city and went on deck under different procedures. The Turkish Customs officials and the İHH denied the allegations. [37] [38]

The impending arrival of the fleet was known to Israel government, military intelligence and press. [39] [40] Israel said that the flotilla was violating international law, but one of the flotilla's organizers, Greta Berlin, stated that "[w]e have the right to sail from international waters into the waters of Gaza". [41] Israel informed the fleet that it would be redirected to the port of Ashdod [42] and the cargo would be transferred to Gaza after undergoing a security inspection. [43] Foreigners would be deported or, if they did not willingly agree to be deported, detained. [44]

The flotilla organisers rejected Israel's demand, as it did not believe that Israel would transfer the cargo to Gaza, [45] and said: "This mission is not about delivering humanitarian supplies, it's about breaking Israel's siege on 1.5 million Palestinians [...] [41] [46] We want to raise international awareness about the prison-like closure of Gaza and pressure the international community to review its sanctions policy and end its support for continued Israeli occupation." [45]

The UNHRC fact-finding mission noted a "certain tension between the political objectives of the flotilla and its humanitarian objectives", which came to light "the moment the Government of Israel made offers to allow the humanitarian aid to be delivered via Israeli ports but under the supervision of a neutral organization". It also announced that Gaza did not have a deep sea port capable of receiving the sort of cargo ships participating in the flotilla. It concluded that "whilst the mission is satisfied that the flotilla constituted a serious attempt to bring essential humanitarian supplies into Gaza, it seems clear that the primary objective was political, as indeed demonstrated by the decision of those on board the Rachel Corrie to reject a Government of Ireland-sponsored proposal that the cargo in that ship be allowed through Ashdod intact". [47]

Some supporters of the flotilla said that "a violent response from Israel will breathe new life into the Palestine solidarity movement, drawing attention to the blockade." [48] Two of the activists (Ali Haydar Bengi and Ibrahim Bilgen) who died during the MV Mavi Marmara clash had previously said that they wished for martyrdom. [49] On 29 May, Aljazeera broadcast footage of Mavi Marmara activists participating in a chant calling for battle against Jews. [49] [50]

Former U.S. Marine Kenneth O'Keefe, who was aboard the Mavi Marmara, stated that the activists knew from the outset that there would be no passive resistance. "I knew that if the Israelis boarded that ship, it would be a disaster [...] You have to be an idiot to board that ship and think it will be a ship of passive resistance", he told Haaretz newspaper. [51]

Initial leg

Six of the eight ships set out on 30 May 2010 from international waters off the coast of Cyprus; [44] the remaining two were delayed by mechanical problems. [52] "We do not even have a jackknife here, but we will not let Israeli soldiers on board this ship", İHH leader Fehmi Bülent Yıldırım told reporters via a live video stream before the convoy set sail. [27]

The government of Cyprus refused to cooperate with the Free Gaza Movement or allow activists to sail from its harbors. The Cyprus Police stated that "anything related to the trip to Gaza is not permitted", and as a result remaining MPs and activists embarked instead from Famagusta in Northern Cyprus. [53] [54] Cypriot and Greek MPs and activists refused to embark via ports in Northern Cyprus. [55] Having been delayed by two days, the flotilla aimed to reach Gaza on the afternoon of 31 May. [44]

Pre-raid sabotage rumors

There are claims that the IDF or the Mossad may have sabotaged three of the ships before the raid. [56] According to the National Post , Israeli deputy defense minister Matan Vilnai hinted that Israel had exhausted covert means of stalling the vessels. He said: "Everything was considered. I don't want to elaborate beyond that, because the fact is there were not up to 10, or however many ships were [originally] planned." [57] A senior IDF officer hinted to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that some of the vessels had been tampered with to halt them far from the Gaza or Israeli coast. [58] [59] According to UPI press coverage, the officer alluded to "grey operations" against the flotilla and said that no such action had been taken against the Mavi Marmara out of fear that the vessel might be stranded in the middle of the sea, endangering the people on board. [56] [59] Israel was accused of sabotaging activist ships in the past but no evidence has been found to back up these claims. [56]

Three ships – the Rachel Corrie, the Challenger I and the Challenger II – suffered damage or malfunction. While the Challenger I was able to continue, the Challenger II had to turn back halfway through the journey and Rachel Corrie docked for repairs in Malta. Greta Berlin of the Free Gaza Movement said that electric wires may have been tampered with. [60]

2010 raid and aftermath

Israeli forces raided the flotilla on the night of 30–31 May 2010 in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, boarding the ships using speedboats and helicopters. Nine activists were killed. Dozens of activists and seven Israeli soldiers were injured.

Children's toys from the Gaza flotilla are unloaded at the Ashdod Port, to be shipped to the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom Crossing. Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Toys from Flotilla Unloaded at Ashdod Port.jpg
Children's toys from the Gaza flotilla are unloaded at the Ashdod Port, to be shipped to the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

After the raid, the activists were detained in Israel pending release: all were deported by 6 June. The ships were towed to Israel and those claimed by their owners were returned. The aid was delivered to Gaza under United Nations supervision on 17 June.

Widespread international condemnation of and reaction to the raid followed. Various investigations were conducted, including by the United Nations, Israel and Turkey. Israel-Turkey relations were strained, and Israel subsequently eased its blockade on Gaza.

Subsequent events

Following the incident, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was established to coordinate further efforts against the Israeli blockade.

Freedom Flotilla II

This section is an excerpt from Freedom Flotilla II.[ edit ]

"Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human" [61] was a flotilla that planned to break the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel by sailing to Gaza on 5 July 2011. Ultimately, the sailing did not take place. [62]

The flotilla was organized by a coalition of 22 NGOs. Its name refers to the May 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which had been raided by Israeli forces, killing a number of activists. Their stated goal was to end the blockade of Gaza "completely and permanently". [63] Initially, 10 ships, with 1,000 activists [64] were set to sail for Gaza, but by 28 June 2011, the number of expected participants had decreased to fewer than 300, plus a few dozen journalists, and by 7 July all but a few dozen activists had returned home. [65] [66]

The flotilla was publicly opposed by the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Canada, the Middle East Quartet (consisting of the EU, Russia, the United Nations, and the United States), and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. It was publicly supported by Hamas. [67]

Activists on two ships, one in Greece and one in Turkey, found similar damage to their propeller shafts, and claimed that the ships had been sabotaged by Israel. [68] It was reported that the investigation by Turkish authorities on one of the ships determined that there may have been no sabotage at all, and that any damage happened before the boat arrived in Turkey, but these media reports appeared prior to the formal investigation beginning and the Turkish coastguard enquiry has yet to announce its findings. The media reports were disputed by Irish Ship to Gaza, the owner of the vessel. [69] [70] [71] Greece forbade the vessels from leaving its ports, citing safety concerns, [72] but offered to instead send any humanitarian aid to Gaza in its own vessels, under United Nations supervision. Greece's offer was supported by Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the United Nations, but rejected by the flotilla activists. [73] [74] Subsequently, two flotilla ships, the Audacity of Hope and Tahrir, disobeyed Greece's orders. They were intercepted by the Greek coast guard, brought back to shore, and a few activists were arrested. Activists responded by occupying the Spanish embassy in Athens. [75]

Only the French ship Dignité Al Karama managed to approach Gaza. They advised the Greek authorities that their destination was the Egyptian port of Alexandria, [76] and then turned toward Gaza. [77] On 19 July, the ship was intercepted and boarded without incident by Israeli commandos and escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod. [78]

Freedom Flotilla III

This section is an excerpt from Freedom Flotilla III.[ edit ]
Blockade of the
Gaza Strip
Crossings
2004–2009
2010 Freedom Flotilla
2011–2022
2023–present
Groups involved

Freedom Flotilla III (#FF3) was a flotilla that planned to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel by sailing to Gaza. It started from Sweden on 10 May 2015 and stopped in several European cities along the way to Gaza. It started officially from Athens, Greece on 25 June 2015. [79] Few details were released in advance. [80]

On 29 June 2015 the Swedish-flagged vessel "Marianne" was intercepted by the Israeli navy [81] in international waters about 100 nautical miles from the Palestinian coast of Gaza. The Israeli military reported that no force was needed during the operation. However, eye-witness video published by Israeli Channel 2 TV shows people being tasered by IDF commandos. [82] The Marianne was boarded by Israeli forces and taken to the port of Ashdod, while the rest of the ships turned back. [83]

Organizers of the flotilla have repeatedly stated the boat was carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza. According to Israel's defense minister Moshe Yaalon "there was no aid on board". The activists supplied a picture with two boxes containing a single solar panel and a nebulizer and added that the boat was to be donated to Gazan fishermen. [84]

On 30 June 2015, Israel began releasing some detainees. Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki was deported to Paris, France, while Member of European Parliament Ana Miranda from Galicia was deported to Spain. Arab Member of the Israeli Knesset Basel Ghattas, and Israeli journalist Ohad Chamo, were released. [85] Two Canadians and a Norwegian sailor were deported on July 2. [86] A Russian journalist and six Swedish participants remained in prison until July 6. [87]

Women's Boat to Gaza

This section is an excerpt from Women's Boat to Gaza.[ edit ]
Blockade of the
Gaza Strip
Crossings
2004–2009
2010 Freedom Flotilla
2011–2022
2023–present
Groups involved
The Women's Boat to Gaza (WBG) was an initiative by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in 2016 to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. [88] [89] The WBG consisted of an entirely female crew and one ship, Zaytouna-Oliva. It started from Barcelona on 14 September 2016 and visited Ajaccio, Corsica and Messina, Sicily along the way. [90] On 5 October 2016, the Israeli Navy intercepted the Women's Boat to Gaza some 14 miles outside the 20-mile "Security Zone" off the Palestinian coast, [91] and detained its crew members, who were taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The activists were subsequently deported to their home countries. [92] [93] [94] [91]

Just Future for Palestine Flotilla

The Just Future for Palestine Flotilla, JFP Flotilla or 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was a further 2018 campaign by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to challenge the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. The flotilla consisted of two ships Al Awda (The Return) and Freedom and two yachts Mairead and Falestine. On 29 July and 3 August 2018, both ships Al Awda and Freedom were boarded and seized by the Israeli Navy. All personnel were arrested, while some reported being tasered, attacked and beaten by Israeli military personnel. Most of the participants were detained by the Israeli authorities and subsequently deported to their home countries. [95] [96] [97]

2024 Gaza Freedom Flotilla attempt

This section is an excerpt from 2024 Gaza Freedom Flotilla.[ edit ]
Blockade of the
Gaza Strip
Crossings
2004–2009
2010 Freedom Flotilla
2011–2022
2023–present
Groups involved
The 2024 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was an international humanitarian relief effort organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla missions

Initial mission and drone attack

This section is an excerpt from May 2025 drone attack on Gaza Freedom Flotilla.[ edit ]
Blockade of the
Gaza Strip
Crossings
2004–2009
2010 Freedom Flotilla
2011–2022
2023–present
Groups involved

In the early morning on 2 May 2025, a vessel organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, carrying 16 to 30 [a] human rights activists and humanitarian aid destined for the Gaza Strip, was attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta. The incident occurred approximately 14–17 nautical miles (26–31 km) from Malta, outside its territorial waters. [99] [100] [101] There is no independent confirmation of the nature of the incident, [102] although Cyprus responded by dispatching a rescue boat, and the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) sent a patrol boat to assist with extinguishing the fire. [99] [103] [104] [105]

Maltese authorities offered assistance, but insisted on inspecting the vessel first. The captain declined the offer. [106]

The June mission

This section is an excerpt from June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla.[ edit ]
Blockade of the
Gaza Strip
Crossings
2004–2009
2010 Freedom Flotilla
2011–2022
2023–present
Groups involved
The June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was an aid vessel organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) with the intention of breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and delivering aid in response to the famine and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. [107] The vessel, Madleen, departed from Catania, Sicily, on 1 June 2025 and contained baby formula, 100 kg (220 lb) of flour, 250 kg (550 lb) of rice, diapers, medical kits, and crutches. In the early hours of 9 June, Israeli forces intercepted, attacked with a chemical spray, boarded, and seized the Madleen in international waters [b] , preventing it from reaching the Gaza Strip, and transported the twelve people on board to detention in Israel. [108] The people onboard included Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan. The detained crew members were later deported from Israel.

The July mission

This section is an excerpt from July 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla.[ edit ]
Blockade of the
Gaza Strip
Crossings
2004–2009
2010 Freedom Flotilla
2011–2022
2023–present
Groups involved
The July 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was a civilian maritime mission organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. The ship Handala departed from Syracuse, Italy, on 13 July 2025, carrying a diverse group of activists, medics, lawyers, journalists, and humanitarian supplies. [109] [110] [111] [112] It made a stop in Gallipoli between 15 and 20 July, before heading to Gaza. [113] [114] Its entry in the Gaza territorial waters, initially estimated between 27 and 28 July, [115] was expected for the early hours of 27 July. [116] Israel boarded and seized the ship in international waters in the late hours of 26 July, before it could reach its destination, and arrested the members of the crew.

Global Sumud Flotilla

Documentary

A 2017 Jordanian documentary, The Truth: Lost at Sea, recalls the story of the flotilla. [118]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The exact number of people aboard the Conscience during the Gaza Freedom Flotilla incident on 2 May 2025, is disputed. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage, stated there were 30 people on board, mostly human rights activists and humanitarian workers. The Maltese government and several news agencies reported 16 people on board: 12 crew members and 4 civilian passengers. [98]
  2. ↑ In this article, as well as in most of the sources referenced in this article, the term "international waters" is intended to mean 'non-territorial waters'. The waters where the incident took place are part of an exclusive economic zone which allows the country that owns the zone to exploit the resources within the waters, but no country may prohibit free passage upon those waters.

References

  1. ↑ Buck, Tobias; Dombey, Daniel; Strauss, Delphine (31 May 2010). "Israel condemned after flotilla attack". Financial Times. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  2. ↑ Black, Ian; Haroon Siddique (31 May 2010). "Q&A: The Gaza Freedom flotilla". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  3. ↑ Lynch, Colum (1 June 2010). "Israel's flotilla raid revives questions of international law". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  4. ↑ Ravid, Barak (27 May 2010). "Israel: Gaza aid convoy can unload cargo in Ashdod for inspection". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Foulkes, Imogen (14 June 2010). "ICRC says Israel's Gaza blockade breaks law". BBC News. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
    • "U.N. Human Rights Chief: Israel's Blockade of Gaza Strip Is Illegal". Fox News. 14 August 2009. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Mitnick, Joshua (1 June 2010). "Flotilla Assault Off Gaza Spurs Crisis". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  7. 1 2 Kosharek, Noah (6 June 2010). "Israel transfers hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists to airport for deportation". Haaretz. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Demirjian, Karoun (28 May 2010). "Israeli commandos to block Gaza activists". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  9. ↑ MacFarquhar, Neil; Bronner, Ethan (2 September 2011). "Report Finds Naval Blockade by Israel Legal but Faults Raid". The New York Times.
  10. ↑ "Palmer report: Gaza blockade legal, IDF force excessive".
  11. ↑ "U.N. experts say Israel's blockade of Gaza illegal". Reuters. 13 September 2011.
  12. ↑ UNHRC report 2010, p. 20.
  13. ↑ Lis, Jonathan (1 June 2010). "Mossad chief: Israel gradually becoming burden on U.S." Haaretz. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
    • "Gaza flotilla: Israel accused of 'sabotaging' Irish aid ship Rachel Corrie". Daily Telegraph. London. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
    • Booth, Robert; Black, Ian (1 June 2010). "Gaza aid flotilla: Israeli sabotage suspected". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  14. ↑ "Taoiseach warns Israel of 'consequences' over arrests". Irish Times. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2011. MV Rachel Corrie ... is ploughing ahead with its attempt to deliver aid to Gaza despite yesterday's deadly attack by the Israeli navy on a Gaza-bound flotilla.
  15. ↑ "Freed activists recount bullets, electroshocks". Kuwait Times. 2 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  16. 1 2 "Özgürlük Filosu'nu komandolar basacak" [Commandos will board Liberty Fleet]. Aksam (in Turkish). Istanbul. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  17. ↑ Mohyeldin, Ayman (1 June 2010). "Evidence belies Israeli claim". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  18. ↑ "Q&A: Israeli deadly raid on aid flotilla". BBC News. 6 June 2010. Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2011. . Often updated.
  19. ↑ Sherwood, Harriet (25 May 2010). "Gaza aid flotilla to set sail for confrontation with Israel". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
    • 王寒露 (Wáng Hánlù) (28 May 2010). "Turkish aid ship leaves for Gaza". People's Daily Online. Beijing. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  20. ↑ Sherwood, Harriet (3 June 2010). "Hamas refuses flotilla aid delivered by Israel". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  21. ↑ Friedman, Ron (3 June 2010). "Wheelchairs as well as weapons found on board aid ships". Jerusalem Post.
  22. ↑ UNHRC report 2010, pp. 22–24.
  23. ↑ Turkish NCI interim report 2010 , p. 10: "All personal belongings and cargo were also thoroughly inspected and cleared."
    • Turkish NCI final report 2011 , p. 113.
  24. ↑ "Hamas prevents flotilla aid from entering Gaza". Haaretz. DPA. 8 June 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  25. ↑ "Death in the Med". BBC News. 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 27 August 2010.See also possible alternate availability
  26. ↑ Ronen, Gil (10 June 2010). "It's Official: There was No Humanitarian Aid on Mavi Marmara". Israel National News. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  27. 1 2 Champion, Marc; Coker, Margaret (4 June 2010). "Israel-Turkey Crisis: U.S. Citizen Among Dead in Gaza Ship Raid". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  28. ↑ Sugden, Joanna (1 June 2010). "Gaza ships: the passenger list". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  29. ↑ "Turkish Press Scan for Aug. 20: Two Ships, Same Activist". Hürriyet Daily News. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  30. ↑ Keinon, Herb (24 August 2010). "Activist on 'Mavi Marmara' Black Sea ferry hijacker". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  31. ↑ McGeough, Paul (31 May 2010). "Tension builds as flotilla approaches Gaza". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  32. ↑ Krieger, Hilary (3 June 2010). "US concerned over IHH-Hamas ties". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  33. ↑ de Montesquiou, Alfred (2 June 2010). "Turkish aid group had terror ties". NBC News. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  34. ↑ "According to the Turkish media (June 2012), IHH head Bülent Yildirim was under investigation for having clandestinely transferred funds to Al-Qaeda" (PDF). Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. 17 July 2012.
  35. ↑ Benhorin, Yitzhak (13 June 2010). "Ayalon to CNN: We won't apologize for flotilla raid". Ynetnews. Tel Aviv. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  36. ↑ Shabi, Rachel (6 June 2010). "Israel forced to apologise for YouTube spoof of Gaza flotilla". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  37. ↑ Soncan, Emre; Salcioğlu, Muzaffer; Yenilmez, Cihan (31 May 2010). "Customs officials deny Israeli claims weapons were onboard". Today's Zaman . Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  38. ↑ Federman, Josef (6 June 2010). "Israel says activists prepared for fight on ship". The Washington Times. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  39. ↑ "Head to Head in the Heart of the Sea". Maariv. 28 May 2010. p. 4.
  40. ↑ Blumenthal, Max (3 June 2010). "The Flotilla Raid Was Not 'Bungled.' The IDF Detailed Its Violent Strategy in Advance". MaxBlumenthal.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  41. 1 2 AFP staff (27 May 2010). "Gaza aid fleet undeterred as Israel steps up warnings". France 24. AFP. Retrieved 7 June 2010.[ dead link ]
  42. ↑ Kershner, Isabel (27 May 2010). "Defying Blockade, Cargo and Passenger Vessels Head for Gaza". New York Times. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  43. ↑ Fox News (31 May 2010). "Israeli Officials Claim Aid Flotilla Had Ties to Al Qaeda, PM Gives Military 'Full Support'". Fox News. NewsCore and AP. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  44. 1 2 3 Amos Harel; Avi Issacharoff; Anshel Pfeffer (31 May 2010). "Israel Navy commandos: Gaza flotilla activists tried to lynch us". Haaretz. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  45. 1 2 "Q&A: Aid and Israel's Gaza blockade". CNN World (CNN staff). 31 May 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
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  47. ↑ UNHRC report 2010, p. 19.
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  49. 1 2 Spencer, Richard (2 June 2010). "Gaza flotilla attack: Turkish activists killed in raid 'wanted to be martyrs'". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
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  53. ↑ Kambas, Michele (28 May 2010). "Cyprus bans activists from joining flotilla". AlertNet. Thomson Reuters Foundation. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
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  55. ↑ Kourakis, T (29 May 2010). "Ευρωπαίοι ακτιβιστές έφυγαν από τα κατεχόμενα για τη Γάζα" [European activists have left for occupied Gaza]. In.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  56. 1 2 3 "Did Israel tamper with flotilla?". United Press International. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
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  58. ↑ Macintyre, Donald; Green, Toby (5 June 2010). "Israel warns Gaza-bound 'Rachel Corrie' to stop". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  59. 1 2 Lis, Jonathan (1 June 2010). "Mossad chief: Israel gradually becoming burden on U.S." Haaretz. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  60. ↑ "Israel releases last of activists seized on aid ships". The Hindu. Chennai, India. DPA. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  61. ↑ Bannoura, Saed (27 June 2011). "German activists hold 'solidarity flotilla' in Berlin canals". Al-Jazeerah: Cross-Cultural Understanding. IMEMC News. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  62. ↑ "Flotilla delayed until next week". Jewish Journal. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  63. ↑ "Press Release from Istanbul" (Press release). Freedomflotilla.eu. 18 June 2011. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  64. ↑ "Flotilla II prepares to sail for Gaza". Al Jazeera. 24 June 2011.
  65. ↑ Katz, Yaakov (7 July 2011). "Flotilla to Gaza founders as Greece stays the course". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  66. ↑ Magnezi, Aviel (28 June 2011). "Fewer than 300 join flotilla". Ynetnews. Tel Aviv. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  67. ↑ "Gaza-bound activists vow to complete trek". CBC World News. 2 July 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  68. ↑ "Israel also sabotaged Irish ship, say Gaza flotilla organizers". Haaretz. Israel. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  69. ↑ "Greece arrests captain of flotilla that tried to sail for Gaza". Yahoo news/The Canadian Press. Associated Press. 2 July 2011. Archived from the original on 5 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
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  71. ↑ "Sabotage of MV Saoirse". Blog archive. Irish Ship to Gaza. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  72. ↑ "Activist flotilla stopped in Greece". The Gazette. Montreal. 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  73. ↑ VOA News (3 July 2011). "Activists Reject Greek Offer to Send Flotilla Aid to Gaza". VOA. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  74. ↑ "Canadian activists demand Greece foot bill for fixing boat". CNN. 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  75. ↑ Shenker, Jack; Urquhart, Conal (5 July 2011). "Activists' plan to break Gaza blockade with aid flotilla is sunk". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  76. ↑ "Dignité-Al Karama sailing to Gaza". Aletho News. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  77. ↑ "French 'Aid Ship' Sails Towards Gaza". Al Jazeera. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  78. ↑ "Israel troops board Gaza protest boat Dignite-al Karama". BBC. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
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  80. ↑ "Freedom Flotilla III expected to set sail for Gaza". The Jerusalem Post . 1 May 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  81. ↑ "Israeli Navy Peacefully Intercepts Gaza-Bound Vessel". The New York Times . 29 June 2015.
  82. ↑ "IDF violence against passangers [sic] of Ship to Gaza boat Marianne". YouTube. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
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  84. ↑ "The 'humanitarian aid' aboard a recent flotilla to Gaza fit in two cardboard boxes". The Washington Post . 1 July 2015.
  85. ↑ "Israel deports Tunisia ex-president after Gaza flotilla". The Times of India . 30 June 2015.
  86. ↑ "Three released tomorrow (02/07), Kevorkova and all Swedes retained". Freedom Flotilla Coalition. 3 July 2015.
  87. ↑ "The detained Swedes will be deported during Sunday and Monday". Freedom Flotilla Coalition. 3 July 2015.
  88. ↑ "Women's Boat to Gaza: A message of hope and solidarity". Freedom Flotilla Coalition. 8 January 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  89. ↑ "The Women's Boat to Gaza will arrive Gaza on October the 1st". Women's Boat to Gaza. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
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  91. ↑ Sanchez, Raf (5 October 2016). "Israeli navy intercepts all-female flotilla protesting against Gaza blockade". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  92. ↑ "No violence as Israel intercepts women's boat to Gaza". The Times of Israel . 5 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  93. ↑ Booth, William; Eglash, Ruth (5 October 2016). "Israel sends female naval cadets to stop women's boat headed to Gaza". The Washington Post . Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  94. ↑ "Unite Union leader Mike Treen reportedly tasered repeatedly by Israeli military". New Zealand Herald. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  95. ↑ "Israel seizes boat trying to break Gaza blockade". The Times of Israel. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
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  97. ↑ Magramo, Kathleen; Salman, Abeer; Symons, Todd; Goillandeau, Martin (2 May 2025). "Aid ship bound for Gaza catches fire after alleged Israeli drone attack off Malta". CNN . Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  98. 1 2 Goillandeau et al. 2025; Carabott 2025a; Uras & Jamal 2025.
  99. ↑ "Drones hit 'Freedom Flotilla' Gaza aid ship in international waters". Al Jazeera . Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  100. ↑ Sansone, Kurt (2 May 2025). "UPDATED | Freedom Flotilla Coalition says ship attacked by drone just outside Maltese territorial waters". Malta Today . Retrieved 2 May 2025.
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  102. ↑ Diacono, Tim (2 May 2025). "Watch: Gaza Freedom Flotilla Says It Has Been Attacked Off The Coast Of Malta". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
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  112. ↑ Chironi, Andrea (15 July 2025). "Da Gallipoli a Gaza, la nave Handala sfida l'embargo sugli aiuti" [From Gallipoli to Gaza, the Handala ship defies the aid embargo]. Quotidiano di Puglia (in Italian). Retrieved 15 July 2025.
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  114. ↑ Ge, Yipeng [@yipengge] (26 July 2025). "With the Handala freedom flotilla travelling at its current speed, in less than 10 hours the boat will arrive on the shores of Gaza. May Handala have safe passage and arrival to Gaza" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 July 2025– via Twitter.
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