ATHENS, Greece: Israeli forces have intercepted an international flotilla carrying activists seeking to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory , and have detained dozens of people. The Global Sumud Flotilla , which was carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, said most of its vessels were intercepted or assumed intercepted after communication with those on board was lost by Thursday morning in an Israeli operation that began the night before. Since setting sail from Spain in early September, participants had reported three separate instances of being targeted by drones during the flotilla’s journey toward Gaza. Spain and Italy sent their navies to escort the flotilla for a part of its journey, but had urged activists to turn back and avoid confrontation with Israel. Here’s what to know about the flotilla. The flotilla’s goal Organizers earlier said that about 50 vessels with around 500 activists from 47 countries participated in the flotilla. Some of the vessels were forced to turn back during the trip due to technical problems, leaving 44 still sailing at the time of the Israeli interception late Wednesday. The nearly 2-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has led to a humanitarian catastrophe in the territory that has seen much of it reduced to rubble. The world’s leading authority on the food crisis has declared famine in Gaza City, the enclave’s largest city. Activists hope their actions will focus attention on the Palestinians’ plight. The flotilla is the largest attempt, in terms of the number of boats, to break Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza, which has now lasted 18 years, long predating the current war. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics consider it collective punishment. The boats’ journey The core vessels set sail from Barcelona, Spain, on Sept. 1, heading east across the Mediterranean Sea , and were joined by other boats along the way. The flotilla includes larger vessels providing support and provisions for the smaller sailboats. Among the participants are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg , former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau , Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela , and several European lawmakers. Activists include military veterans, doctors, clergy and lawyers, and come from a range of countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as from Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The interception Israeli vessels approached the boats while they sailed in international waters during the night, spraying some with water canons and flashing bright lights before Israeli forces boarded them and detained the activists. Some of the flotilla boats managed to maintain live streams on social media accounts during the interception. Organizers said an estimated 443 participants were detained. They included Thunberg, Colau, Mandela and European Parliament member Rima Hassan. Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted photos and videos of the activists, saying on X that they were “safe and in good health” and would be transferred to Israel for deportation. Several countries, including Italy, Greece, France and Spain, said consular support was being provided to their nationals. Israel had repeatedly criticized the aid initiative and accused some flotilla leaders of links to Hamas, an accusation the activists strongly reject. It had warned that the boats would not be allowed to reach Gaza. International reaction Supporters of the flotilla took to the streets in several major cities following the news of the interception — including Rome, Istanbul, Athens and Buenos Aires — to decry Israeli actions and the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza . More protests were expected later Thursday, while Italy’s largest union called for a one-day general strike on Friday. Several countries, including Turkey, Colombia, Pakistan, South Africa and Malaysia, condemned Israel’s interception of the flotilla. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry described it as an “act of terrorism,” while Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro announced his government would expel Israel’s diplomatic delegation and terminate his country’s Free Trade Agreement with Israel. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on Israel to release “the South Africans abducted in international waters, and to release other nationals who have tried to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid.” The Committee to Protect Journalists also called for the unconditional release of those detained, adding that 32 journalists had been accompanying the flotilla. Italy and France…