‘Maritime piracy, terrorist act’: Iran urges global unity to free Sumud 2 flotilla

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has called on the international community to act decisively to secure the release of the Global Sumud Flotilla 2 vessels, condemning Israel’s interception of its ships as a brazen act of piracy and state terrorism.

Esmail Baghaei described the Zionist regime’s attack on the humanitarian vessels in international waters as “state piracy and a terrorist act,” urging the United Nations to hold the occupying regime accountable.

Baghaei said the flotilla’s mission was to break the brutal siege of Gaza and deliver life‑saving aid to the oppressed Palestinian people. He said the assault on the convoy was an attack on humanitarian values and an assault on the awakened conscience of humanity.

The spokesman called on all countries, international organizations and world public opinion to condemn the Israeli regime’s relentless violations of international law, ensure the immediate release of all detainees, and provide full support to the humanitarian campaign for Gaza.

The Israeli military intercepted 22 vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off the coast of Greece late Wednesday, hundreds of miles from Gaza.

Organizers said the boats, part of the second Sumud mission, were sailing from the Spanish port of Barcelona to deliver humanitarian supplies.

Israeli forces intercept Gaza-bound flotilla in Mediterranean, organizers say

Israeli forces move to stop a large humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza, intercepting several vessels in international waters.

Israeli forces boarded the ships, smashed engines, destroyed navigation gear and jammed communications before leaving some vessels adrift in the path of an approaching storm.

At least 211 activists, including a Paris city councillor, were reported to have been taken to Israel. Israeli officials put the number of detainees at 175.

Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, tightened further after the genocidal war in October 2023.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place since October 2025, but humanitarian conditions have steadily deteriorated.

A UN official warned this week that the population of 2.1 million is facing relentless attacks, with food security dangerously low and basic services on the verge of collapse.

The first Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted in October 2025, when Israeli forces arrested more than 450 people, including prominent activist Greta Thunberg.

In the current Sumud 2 mission, more than 80 vessels originally set sail from southern Europe, of which at least 22 have been seized by the Israeli navy near the island of Crete.

International condemnation has been swift. Italy demanded the immediate release of its nationals, Spain said the seizure was illegal and urged suspension of EU-Israel cooperation, and Turkey labeled the operation “an act of piracy”.

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