Israel's naval forces have repeatedly intercepted Gaza-bound aid vessels in international waters, as seen in the late April 2026 seizure of over 20 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla near Crete, where activists were detained before any approach to territorial limits. The current flotilla, with more than 50 vessels departing Turkey on May 14 after regrouping, continues efforts to challenge the longstanding blockade amid ongoing enforcement patterns. These prior operations, combined with Israel's stated policy of preventing breaches, have shaped trader assessments that the deadline will pass without entry into Israeli waters, reflecting established precedents for halting such missions far offshore.