Israeli navy intercepts most flotilla boats and arrests activists. A single boat stops nears Gaza

Israeli navy forces boarded most of the vessels and detained dozens of activists and a number of European lawmakers aboard a flotilla attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza on Thursday, drawing condemnation from around the world.

The organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said one boat had managed to sail on but stopped near Gaza’s coast on Thursday morning before contact with the vessel was lost. They said 39 of their boats were intercepted — or assumed intercepted as communication with the activists was lost — in an Israeli operation that began the night before.

Supporters of the flotilla took to the streets in several major cities late Wednesday, after news of the interception broke — including Rome, Naples, Istanbul, Athens and Buenos Aires — to decry Israeli actions and the ongoing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. More protests were expected Thursday around the world. Italy’s largest union