Israel’s foreign minister on Thursday announced that “in co-ordination with the Greek government, the individuals transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be disembarked on a Greek beach in the coming hours”, in reference to the overnight interception of craft sailing in international waters west of Crete.

The vessels were reportedly carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists headed for Gaza.

According to a BBC dispatch, there was no immediate comment from the Greek government in the wake of Israeli FM Gideon Sa’ar announcement on X.

Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis had earlier told a news conference the Israeli naval vessels were outside Greece’s territorial waters when the interception happened, and that there was no prior consultation between Israeli and Greek authorities.

No further information was provided on where exactly the individuals would be disembarked.

Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) said 22 boats carrying 175 activists were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near the large Greek island of Crete.