Israeli forces board Gaza-bound aid ship, says French MEP

Emma Fourreau, a French MEP and member of the Gaza-bound Handala mission, says Israeli forces have approached the vessel.

“The Israeli army is here,” she wrote on X, adding that she and others on board planned to toss their phones into the sea.

Her post came as Al Jazeera Arabic reported that three Israeli naval ships had moved close to the aid vessel, just hours after the crew reported spotting an Israeli drone overhead.

Footage shared via livestream by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition later showed at least six Israeli soldiers boarding the ship.

Activists on board could be seen sitting together with life jackets on, holding their arms in the air.