Israel foreign ministry says 'several' Gaza flotilla vessels 'safely stopped'

Israel's foreign ministry on Wednesday said Israel had halted vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza, which aimed to break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.

"Already several vessels of the... flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy," the ministry said on social media, referring to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is aboard the flotilla.

The flotilla carries humanitarian aid and activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, left Barcelona vowing to try to "break the illegal siege of Gaza".

Some 20 vessels set off from the port city on Spain's east coast pledging to "open a humanitarian corridor and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people", said the Global Sumud Flotilla – Sumud being the Arabic term for "resilience".