Israel Says Gaza Aid Flotilla Will Not Be Allowed to Breach Naval Blockade

Tel Aviv — Israel has declared it will not allow an aid flotilla headed to Gaza to break through its naval blockade, stressing that no vessel will be permitted to enter what it described as a “war zone.”

In a statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry alleged that the flotilla was organized to serve Hamas’s objectives rather than purely humanitarian purposes.

The ministry said participating ships would be permitted to dock at the Israeli port of Ashkelon, where humanitarian aid could then be transferred to Gaza “in a swift and coordinated manner.”

“If the flotilla’s participants truly aim to deliver humanitarian assistance and not aid Hamas, Israel calls on them to dock at Ashkelon Marina, where their cargo will be offloaded and sent into Gaza,” the statement read.

The announcement underscores Israel’s firm stance on restricting direct maritime aid deliveries to Gaza while maintaining tight control over access routes.