The state has asked the Haifa District Court (sitting as a maritime court) to permanently seize 50 foreign vessels that attempted last month to breach Israel’s lawful naval blockade of the Gaza Strip as part of the “Sumud” flotilla. Prosecutors say a substantial number of the boats were owned by or linked to Hamas.
The filing relies on international law, which allows states to seize ships trying to violate a naval blockade and gives the court authority to order confiscation. Authorities describe the Sumud flotilla as unprecedented in scale and as posing an operational challenge to the navy; they say the movement resembled coordinated military-style maneuvers and that Hamas coordinated funding, ship purchases, and logistics while trying to hide its involvement.
In the first phase, 41 vessels were intercepted on Yom Kippur; nine more were stopped about a week later. Officials report that the boats carried only a negligible amount of humanitarian supplies — under five tonnes in total, roughly a quarter of what a single aid truck delivers — which, the state argues, indicates the mission’s real intent was to breach the blockade or stage a media provocation rather than provide meaningful relief.
The petition says permanent confiscation is needed both to impose a firm legal response to the security threat and to send a strong deterrent message to organizers planning future multi-ship flotillas. Prosecutors also note ongoing intelligence indicating organizers are seeking additional vessels for another large flotilla.