On the night of October 1, 2025, a daring humanitarian mission unfolded in the Mediterranean Sea, drawing the world’s attention and sparking a diplomatic firestorm across continents. The Global Sumud Flotilla—more than 40 civilian vessels carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists from over 40 countries—set sail with a singular goal: to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. What happened next has triggered international outrage, protests, and a cascade of official condemnations, especially from Latin America and the Caribbean.
According to CNN and Mexico News Daily, the flotilla was intercepted by Israeli naval forces about 70 miles off the coast of Gaza, in international waters north of Egypt. Israeli authorities, citing security concerns and invoking the ongoing blockade of Gaza, boarded the vessels and detained hundreds of those on board. Among the detainees were six Mexican citizens—Sol Gonzalez Eguia, Arlene Gabriela Medrano, Carlos Perez Osorio, Diego Vasquez Galindo, Ernesto Ledezma Arronte, and Laura Alejandra Diaz Gaytan—as well as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and many others from countries worldwide.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quick to frame the flotilla’s attempt as a “provocation,” linking the activists to Hamas and emphasizing that “none of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade.” In a social media post, the ministry stated, “All the passengers are safe and in good health. They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe.” Israeli officials also noted that the activists had been offered alternative ways to deliver aid to Gaza but had refused, suggesting their motives were more about making a statement than providing assistance.
But for the families and governments of those detained, especially in Latin America, these explanations rang hollow. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, speaking at a press conference on October 1, minced no words: “We decry this situation. Humanitarian aid must reach Gaza, and our Mexican brothers have to be repatriated immediately – they did not commit a crime.” Sheinbaum confirmed that the six Mexicans were being held in the Israeli port of Ashdod, had not been allowed to see their consul, and faced transfer to the Ktzi’ot detention center. “There is no reason for them to be detained,” she insisted. “They haven’t committed any crime and they should be handed over to Mexican authorities [in Israel] for their repatriation.”
Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sprang into action, sending four diplomatic notes to Israel between September 30 and October 2, demanding guarantees for the physical well-being of the detainees, explanations for their interception, assurances of their safety, and their immediate release and repatriation. Embassy officials traveled to Ashdod to verify conditions and press for consular access, while a seventh Mexican who was aboard a legal support vessel was rerouted to Cyprus. The ministry also made clear in a public statement that the detained Mexicans were “peaceful” and had “no links to any violent groups.”
As news of the interception spread, so did public outrage. Demonstrations erupted in Mexico City, where protesters gathered outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, waving Mexican and Palestinian flags and demanding the release of their compatriots. Similar scenes unfolded in Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, La Paz, and other Latin American capitals, as citizens expressed solidarity with the flotilla and condemnation of Israel’s actions.
The diplomatic fallout extended far beyond Mexico. According to La Jornada and The Guardian, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro called the interception an “international crime,” expelled Israel’s diplomatic delegation, and announced the immediate termination of the free trade agreement with Israel. He also called on the Hague Group—a coalition of countries including Bolivia, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa—to declare a global general strike against Israel’s actions.
Other Latin American leaders echoed these strong words. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the interception as evidence of the “genocidal essence of Israel,” while Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused Israel of “flouting international law and global calls to stop its genocide against the Palestinian people.” Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira underscored Israel’s responsibility for the safety of the flotilla’s participants, stating, “[The intention was] to highlight the need for humanitarian aid to the Palestinians who are suffering and isolated in Gaza.” Venezuela’s government labeled the operation a “cowardly act of piracy,” and Bolivia’s President Luis Arce called it “an unacceptable act of violence and a flagrant violation of international law.”
In Uruguay and Chile, government officials expressed “serious concerns” and pledged support for their detained citizens. The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) issued a statement condemning the Israeli operation as “state terrorism, modern piracy, and a flagrant violation of international law.” The alliance called on the global community to demand the immediate release of the detained activists and warned that inaction would erode the credibility of international institutions.
The flotilla’s organizers reported that more than 450 activists from 47 countries had been transferred to Ashdod Port, with plans for their deportation to Europe. The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza noted that one vessel, the Marinette, remained at sea due to technical malfunctions but was still far from its destination. The Sumud Flotilla, which set sail at the end of August, was the first such mission in years to attempt to break the blockade with such a large group of ships and participants.
Video messages from two of the detained Mexican women, Arlene Gabriela Medrano and Sol Gonzalez Eguia, confirmed their interception in international waters and their continued detention in Israel. In her message, Medrano stated, “Hello, my name is Arlín Medrano and if you are watching this video it’s because we were illegally intercepted in international waters by the Israeli occupation.”
At the heart of the controversy lies the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for nearly 18 years, a situation that has only worsened since March 2025, when border crossings were closed and deliveries of food and medicine were blocked, pushing the enclave toward famine. According to the United Nations and various rights groups, the enclave is now on the brink of being uninhabitable, with starvation and disease spreading rapidly. Since October 2023, Israeli military operations have killed more than 66,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to organizers and rights groups cited by Border Report and ALBA-TCP.
As the activists await deportation and their governments press for their safe return, the fate of humanitarian aid for Gaza—and the broader question of international law and human rights—hangs in the balance. The events of October 2025 have reignited fierce debate over the blockade, the legitimacy of humanitarian interventions, and the responsibilities of nations in times of crisis. One thing is clear: this episode has galvanized voices across Latin America and beyond, demanding not just the release of their citizens, but a broader reckoning with the ongoing tragedy in Gaza.
