The Global Sumud Flotilla reported on social media that drones dropped chemical substances on some of the ships, while nearby explosions and communication disruptions were also noted. No casualties have been reported.
Polish member of parliament and activist Franciszek Sterczewski, who is on board one of the ships sailing under Poland’s flag, said three vessels had been damaged in a series of 13 attacks against 10 boats by 4:30 a.m.
He wrote that a drone hit his ship’s mast with a stun bomb, causing a powerful blast but only minor damage to the sail.
Przed chwilą zaatakowano statek pod polską banderą, na którym płynę. Dron uderzył bombą hukową w maszt. Wybuch był...
Opublikowany przez Franek Sterczewski Wtorek, 23 września 2025
Sterczewski accused Israel of carrying out the strikes, warning that if confirmed, the use of drones against Polish-flagged humanitarian ships in international waters would constitute a violation of both international and Polish law.
The politician pointed to Article 92 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which states that an attack on a ship sailing under a country’s flag is treated as an attack on that state’s territory.
He also called on the Polish government to respond diplomatically, legally and, if necessary, militarily, to protect its citizens and sovereignty.
Atak 🇮🇱 dronów na flotyllę pod polską banderą 🇵🇱, niosącą pomoc humanitarną na wodach międzynarodowych, byłby...
Opublikowany przez Franek Sterczewski Wtorek, 23 września 2025
Pro-Palestinian flotilla still heads to Gaza despite Israeli drone attack
Pro-Palestinian activists, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, have stated that despite disruptions and intimidation attempts, they will not abandon their humanitarian mission. The flotilla aims to break the Israeli blockade and deliver aid to civilians in Gaza.
On Monday, before an incident involving drones occurred, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would not allow the roughly 20-ship flotilla to break the maritime blockade of the Palestinian territory.
According to Israel, the Global Sumud Flotilla, the biggest mission ever sailing to break the siege of Gaza with dozens of boats, is a group “organized by Hamas and serving Hamas.”
“If the flotilla participants’ genuine wish is to deliver humanitarian aid rather than serve Hamas, Israel calls on the vessels to dock at the Ashkelon Marina and unload the aid there, from where it will be transferred promptly in a coordinated manner to the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a prior statement, urging compliance with Israeli law.
In a recent statement, Israeli diplomats said the flotilla crew rejected Israel’s offer to offload aid safely at the nearby Ashkelon Marina, opting instead for an illegal route into a conflict zone that violates the naval blockade.
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Source: IAR/Facebook.com/Franek Sterczewski/X/@GlobalSumudF/@IsraelMFA/@gbsumudflotilla