{"id":2597659,"date":"2026-05-01T11:24:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T15:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-condemns-israels-capture-of-gaza-flotilla-activists\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T11:25:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T15:25:13","slug":"mamdani-condemns-israels-capture-of-gaza-flotilla-activists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-condemns-israels-capture-of-gaza-flotilla-activists\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamdani condemns Israel&#8217;s capture of Gaza flotilla activists"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmamdani-condemns-israels-capture-of-gaza-flotilla-activists%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2597659&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called for the release of activists detained after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla in the Mediterranean near Crete. israeli troops boarded more than 20 vessels carrying about 175 activists affiliated with the Global Sumud flotilla, which had departed Barcelona with the aim of challenging Israel\u2019s blockade and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-finally-allows-westerners-including-americans-to-board-commercial-flight-out-of-kabul\/\" title=\"Taliban Finally Allows \u2018Westerners,\u2019 Including Americans, To Board Commercial Flight Out Of Kabul\">delivering humanitarian aid<\/a>; Mamdani said some New yorkers were among those detained.<\/p>\n<p>Most detainees have as been freed,but two-Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila-remain in Israeli custody. Israel\u2019s foreign ministry said they are suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization and of illegal activity, while Greece said it is coordinating with Israel to help facilitate a safe return. Israel defended the operation as necessary and conducted \u201cpeacefully,\u201d saying it prevented any breach of the blockade, while flotilla organizers argued the mission was to oppose what they call an illegal blockade and press for humanitarian access into Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>The incident has led to protests in several cities, and international leaders including Spain and Italy have condemned the action and urged releases. In the background, organizers and commentators have described the flotilla effort as part of repeated attempts to reach Gaza; Israel previously deported more than 470 people during an earlier attempt, which drew global attention.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>New York City Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11802\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a> is calling for the release of activists detained after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"219\">Israeli<\/a> forces intercepted a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"217\">Gaza<\/a>-bound flotilla.<\/p>\n<p>Israeli forces <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4550090\/israel-intercepts-flotilla-gaza-activists\/\">boarded more than 20 vessels<\/a> carrying about 175 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mediterranean-sea\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"6731\">Mediterranean Sea<\/a> near Crete. The group had sailed from Barcelona, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/spain\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1864\">Spain<\/a>, earlier this month, aiming to challenge the blockade and deliver humanitarian aid. Several New Yorkers were among those detained, according to Mamdani.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4550090\/israel-intercepts-flotilla-gaza-activists\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Israel intercepts flotilla headed to Gaza<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4549845\/starmer-promises-prosecute-globalize-intifada-chants-british-jews-stabbed\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Starmer promises to prosecute \u2018globalize the intifada\u2019 chants after stabbing of British Jews<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4549718\/first-commercial-flight-us-venezuela-seven-years\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>After seven years, the first commercial flight from US to Venezuela takes off<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cMy team has been in direct contact \u2026 to confirm the whereabouts and conditions of these New Yorkers,\u201d Mamdani <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NYCMayor\/status\/2049974221934141802\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NYCMayor\/status\/2049974221934141802\">said on X<\/a>, calling the operation a \u201cbrazen violation of international law\u201d and urging the activists\u2019 release.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Most detainees have since been freed, but two, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, remain in Israeli custody. The Israeli Foreign Ministry <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/israelmfa\/status\/2050120156529983832\">said they are<\/a> \u201csuspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization\u201d and \u201csuspected of illegal activity,\u201d respectively.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/greece\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2126\">Greece<\/a> said it is coordinating with Israel to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mfa.gr\/en\/announcement-by-the-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-on-the-global-sumud-flotilla-30-04-2026\/\">facilitate the activists\u2019 return<\/a>, noting it is \u201cin consultation \u2026 regarding safe disembarkation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Israel defended the operation as necessary to enforce what it called a lawful blockade, saying \u201can early action was required\u201d and that the boarding was conducted \u201cpeacefully and without any casualties.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a separate statement, Israeli officials <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/gidonsaar\/status\/2049873574337434105\">described<\/a> the flotilla as \u201canother provocation\u201d and reiterated that \u201cIsrael will not allow the breach of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/greta-thunbergs-gaza-flotilla-fails-to-float-past-reality-again\/\" title=\"Greta Thunberg&#039;s ... ... Fails to Float Past Reality - Again\">lawful naval blockade<\/a> on Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flotilla organizers said their mission was to \u201cchallenge Israel\u2019s illegal blockade\u201d and push for humanitarian aid\u00a0into Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>The incident has sparked protests in Rome, Istanbul, and Athens, Greece, on Thursday. <\/p>\n<p>At the same time, some global leaders condemned the Israeli navy\u2019s action. <\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez accused Israel of \u201cviolating international law,\u201d while Italian Prime Minister <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/giorgia-meloni\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5536\">Giorgia Meloni<\/a> called for the immediate release of \u201call the unlawfully detained Italians.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the U.S. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/board-of-peace\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"21313\">Board of Peace<\/a> said it <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">i<\/span>s\u00a0working on plans for Gaza\u2019s recovery, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/james-corden-under-fire-over-culturally-offensive-segment-on-gross-asian-foods\/\" title=\"James Corden Under Fire Over \u2018Culturally Offensive\u2019 Segment On \u2018Gross\u2019 Asian Foods\">including steps<\/a> toward disarmament and governance transition to \u201caccelerate aid and rebirth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It also supported Israel\u2019s capture of the flotilla, calling it a \u201cperformative love-boat activism of people who know nothing of and care even less for the condition of Gazans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4540946\/trump-secure-2015-iran-nuclear-deal\/\"><strong>CAN TRUMP SECURE A DEAL \u2018FAR BETTER\u2019 THAN THE 2015 IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is distasteful to trade on the misery of people to build your social media profile,\u201d it said, adding that activists should instead pressure Hamas to rebuild the communities it \u201cdestroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The latest confrontation is the second attempt by the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the Gaza blockade. Less than a year ago, Israel deported more than 470 people, including Swedish activist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/greta-thunberg\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1897\">Greta Thunberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zohran Mamdani urges release of Gaza-bound flotilla activists detained by Israel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2597660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26105776817809.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[64437,4671,56552,75194],"class_list":["post-2597659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-gaza-flotilla","tag-israel","tag-mamdani","tag-piracy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26105776817809.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2597659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2597659"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2597659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2597663,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2597659\/revisions\/2597663"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2597660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2597659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2597659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2597659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}