Shayetet 13

Israeli Navy commandos board Gaza-bound flotilla, seize vessels and detain activists, while Foreign Ministry links convoy to Hamas, Trump peace plan.

The Foreign Ministry called the flotilla a “provocation for the sake of provocation,” saying Israel would not allow a breach of the naval blockade on Gaza.

Diplomatic officials are working behind the scenes to defuse tensions, and Israel is currently utilizing diplomatic channels with Turkey to try to prevent the flotilla from setting sail.

While for the ground forces, this has manifested itself in creating buffer zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, for the Navy, it has meant special forces carrying out more risky operations.

Many of the scenarios the IDF trained to defend against were based on special intelligence the IDF obtained from a highly placed Hezbollah secret naval commander.

The operation to capture Imad Amahz, a key terrorist of Hezbollah's covert maritime terror network, was done by the Shayetet 13 special naval ops. unit in a city almost 140 km away from Israel.

The pro-Palestinian organization urged the British government to take action to seize the vessel, which was sailing under a British Flag.

The Defense Ministry announced that the flotilla was making its way to Israeli shores and that all passengers were expected to return to their home countries.

Hezbollah "must decide whether to alter their operational plans and relocate bases or gamble that the detainee won't divulge critical information," Baram said.

The Hezbollah official was reportedly subsequently transferred to Israeli territory.