Mikeno Sumud Flotilla breaks Israeli blockade, enters Gaza waters
In a historic moment, Mikeno, one of the 45 Global Sumud Flotilla ships, Thursday broke the Israeli blockade and entered Gaza's territorial waters
[Muhammad Kuchuktigin, the Captain of Mikeno, in a photo two days ago.]
Mediterranean Sea: In a historic moment, Mikeno, one of the 45 Global Sumud Flotilla ships, Thursday broke the Israeli blockade and entered Gaza's territorial waters.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IDF) are intercepting and detaining the activists onboard the Gaza Flotilla ships.
The Mikeno ship, which had lost its signal, appeared inside Gaza’s territorial waters about 9.3 miles from Gaza, the organisers said in a post on X a little while ago.
Meantime, Marinette, sailing under the Polish flag, is still connected via Starlink and in communication, carrying a total of 6 passengers on board.
[Global Sumud Flotilla trackers shows the latest location of Mikeno ship in Gaza waters, barely few miles away from the Palestinian territory under the Israeli occupation.]
The Sumud Flotilla - the largest civilian maritime mission organized to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza, was launched in August and September 2025 when boats of all sizes set sail from ports around the world, converging toward Gaza to open a humanitarian corridor by sea.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was launched after the earlier Gaza Aid Flotillas – most recently Madleen and Handala, were seized and the members onboard were detained by the Israeli Occupation Forces.
A fleet of 44 vessels with citizens from over 40 countries were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla on its way to Gaza to break the Israel seize of the besieged enclave.
Prominent participants included Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, Ada Colau, former mayor of Barcelona, Liam Cunningham, Irish actor and humanitarian, Susan Sarandon, renowned American actress and social activist, Thiago Avila of Brazil, and Greta Thunberg, the famous Swedish environmental activist who was also part of the Madleen Flotilla.
Activists detained by IDF
The IDF operation to intercept, seize and block the Global Sumud Flotilla ships began last night. As of now the Israeli occupation forces have detained more than 300 activists, seizing 38-39 ships on their way to Gaza.
However, 4-6 ships are still on their way to Gaza despite the Israeli attacks. During this time, Mikeno – one of the 45 ships early in the morning Thursday October 02, 2025 broke the Israeli blockade and entered Gaza waters, the Global Sumud Flotilla tracker shows.
Some of the activists and politicians abducted by the Israeli navy on board the Global Sumud Flotilla are Greta Thunberg - Climate Activist, Mandla Mandela – Grandson of Nelson Mandela, Luizianne Lins – Brazilian congresswoman, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan – Ex Senator, Manuela Bedoya – Colombian Activist, Luna Barreto – Colombian activist, Bruno Gilga – Brazilian union leader, Zizi Kirana – Malaysian singer, Farah Lee – influencer, Heliza & Hazwani Helmi – activists, Thiago Ávila – organizer, Enissa Amani – comedian & activist, Ada Colau – former Mayor of Barcelona, Gustaf Skarsgård – actor, Arlin Medrano + 5 Other Mexicans, Irish Senator Chris Andrews, Jasmine Ikeda — US Citizen, Nestor Prieto — Journalist and Rima Hassan — Member of the European Parliament.
This was the 38th flotilla launched to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Only 5 of the 38 flotillas have been successful in their mission.
Protests, Outrage
Meanwhile, the Israeli action against the Global Sumud Flotilla has sparked global outrage further isolating the illegal Zionists occupyer with protests erupting in cities like Istanbul, Athens, Buenos Aires, Rome, Berlin, Madrid and Mexico City.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa termed Israel's interception and attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla a grave offence against global solidarity and sentiment aimed at relieving suffering in Gaza.
He urged the Israeli occupation to immediately release South Africans on the flotilla, including anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela's grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela.
Former British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged the UK Government to impose widespread sanctions on the Israeli occupation following the attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Spain has summoned Israel’s top diplomatic representative in Madrid following the Israeli attack on Global Sumud Flotilla.
"Today I summoned the charge d'affaires here in Madrid. 65 Spaniards were travelling with the flotilla,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares.
Brazil also condemned the Israeli navy interception of the Sumud flotilla, with several Brazilian nationals onboard including a lawmaker and Brazilian congresswoman Luiza Erundina.
The foreign ministry denounced the Israeli attack saying it violated the rights of peaceful activists aboard the Flotilla. The Brazilian government directly expressed its concern to Israel regarding the safety of the 15 Brazilian nationals participating in the mission.
Calling the Israeli attack an "International Crime", Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of the entire Israeli diplomatic delegation from the country following the detention of two Colombian citizens aboard a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza.
Irish President Michael Higgins condemning the attack said the Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla and the closure of two main roads in Gaza City, effectively separating the territory’s north and south “should alarm the entire world."
Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry in a message posted on X said that the detained activists are on their way to Israel's Ashdod Port, from where they will be deported to Europe.
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