ByAMICHAI STEIN

A Turkish flotilla of 53 vessels, organized by the IHH, the same group behind the Mavi Marmara flotilla, is reportedly en route to Israel.

The flotilla is an element of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which departed Turkey for Gaza on Thursday on its second blockade run, the first of which occured in April and ended with 20 of its vessels intercepted by the Israeli Navy.

The IHH's flotilla is expected to reach Israel’s shores within 48 hours. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to hold an operational meeting on the matter with senior defense officials.

An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that Netanyahu held a preliminary security consultation on Sunday regarding the Turkish flotilla, which includes Hamas supporters and intends to breach the naval blockade on Gaza.

The previous flotilla to be intercepted included Brazilian activist Thiago Avila and Spanish national Abu Keshek, who were both detained in Israel for questioning under suspicion of aiding the enemy and contact with a terrorist group. 

Brazilian Activist Thiago Avila, who was detained aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, appears at a court in Beersheba, southern Israel May 6, 2026.
Brazilian Activist Thiago Avila, who was detained aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, appears at a court in Beersheba, southern Israel May 6, 2026. (credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)

Both Avila and Keshek were deported earlier this month, joining the other over 100 participants who were deported soon after the naval interception.

In addition to the naval flotilla, a 30-vehicle land convoy set out from Libya to Gaza on Saturday as part of the GSF.

GSF: Convoy includes doctors, nurses, engineers, builders

200 participants from 25 countries are participating in the convoy, according to GSF, which said in a press release that the delegation includes doctors, nurses, engineers, and builders.

A previous, much larger land convoy that departed Tunisia in June was denied passage by Libyan forces, according to France 24, while a concurrent 200-member strong group was deported from Egypt upon arrival.

The Gaza Strip has been under a strict Israeli blockade since the Hamas terrorist organization, which largely runs the strip, committed its October 7 massacre in 2023 in southern Israel, with the ensuing war leaving much of the Strip's population dependent on humanitarian aid.

Michael Starr contributed to this report.