The flotilla set off from Barcelona on August 31, 2025, and later stopped in Sicily. Photo: Sky News

The moment Israeli forces stormed the Global Sumud Flotilla delivering aid to Gaza. Photo: Global Sumud Flotilla

Virgin Islands sailor Dane Hunter is also part of the Global Sumud Flotilla seeking to deliver aid to Gaza. Photo: Facebook

The last photo posted to Facebook by Virgin Islands sailor Dane Hunter, who is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla seeking to deliver aid to Gaza. Photo: Facebook

Greta Thunberg and activist Saif Abukeshek. Israeli forces have removed Thunberg from the flotilla. Photo: Reuters/Nacho Doce

And the United Kingdom (UK) government is being condemned by its own citizens for failing to intervene to allow the safe passage of the flotilla to the war-torn territory.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is made up of 44 civilian boats with an estimated 500 people onboard, and is trying to break Israel's sea blockade.

Virgin Islands sailor Dane Hunter is also part of the flotilla.

According to The Independent, the flotilla was confronted by Israeli warships overnight, October 1, 2025, and detained hundreds of activists onboard. 

The flotilla ignored requests to turn back and organisers said the interception was illegal as it happened in "international waters" around 80 miles off the coast.

Greg Stoker, a US veteran who's involved, told Sky News water cannon had been used on some of the boats.

UK urged to fulfill its ‘moral duty’

British-Polish national Ewa Jasiewicz, who lives in London, was sailing the treacherous journey 15 years after reportedly witnessing Israeli forces kill nine of her fellow activists during a raid on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in 2010.

She was one of many detained by Israeli forces.

“I'm stunned that [prime minister Sir Keir Starmer] can be this morally and ethically bankrupt, is this what being in power does to somebody? I'm not just baffled, I'm disgusted as well,” Ms Jasiewicz, one of Sir Keir’s constituents, told The Independent, calling on the UK to fulfill its “moral duty” to “prevent genocide” in Gaza.

“I fully expect my MP to intervene on my behalf and to support civilian efforts to break the siege on Gaza. I expect full diplomatic and state efforts to to lift this genocidal siege on Gaza,” Jasiewicz said.

VI sailor made last FB post on Sept 30

Meanwhile, Hunter, who said he has Palestinian friends in the Caribbean and New York, and that his decision to join the flotilla was deeply personal, has not updated his Facebook page since 6:25 PM on Tuesday, September 30.

“We're approaching the critical zone. Comms are on the fritz, internet will likely go next. May not hear from me for a bit. Keep your eyes on the flotilla, and most importantly, on Gaza,” Hunter last wrote.

According to Sky News, Israel didn't comment, but has said it will use any means to stop the boats getting to Gaza.

Protests erupted around the world after Israel's interception of the flotilla.

People took to the streets in solidarity with the flotilla in countries including Italy, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.

Gaza has been dealing with severe food shortages due to the ongoing war.

Israel put in a sea blockade when Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, and there have been several attempts to break it since then.