Shortly after their arrests, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the nonprofit that has staged dozens of efforts to reach Gaza to protest Israel, posted prerecorded videos on X showing the crew members saying that they had been “kidnapped.” They called on their home governments to put pressure on Israel to release them.

The group is carrying supplies for Gazan Palestinians and protesting what they say is “Israel’s “illegal, decades-long blockade, and ongoing genocide” in the enclave.

Gaza Freedom Flotilla activists issued a distress call as drones hovered over the ship, while UN experts demanded their safe passage.