It was at least the third vessel blocked this year while challenging Israel’s naval blockade and seeking to deliver supplies by sea to a population facing rising starvation.

Israeli forces intercepted and hijacked a British-flagged humanitarian vessel en route to the Gaza Strip, intensifying global outrage over Tel Aviv’s blockade of the besieged Palestinian territory.

A boat carrying activists, including two Australians, has been intercepted by Israeli forces, Israel's foreign ministry has confirmed. A pro-Palestinian activist group claims the crew of the vessel, dubbed Handala, is being held in "unlawful" detention after attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.