Iran and Hamas Launch Coordinated Naval Flotilla to Block Israeli Shipping in Mediterranean

In April 2026, Hamas and Iran orchestrated a large-scale naval flotilla involving dozens of ships from 19 countries, disguised as the "Condoms Flotilla" and linked to Greta Thunberg, aiming to blockade Israeli merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. The operation, led by senior Hamas official Zahar al-Birawi, unfolded in two phases and was intended not only to provoke Israel and damage its international standing but also to impose a maritime siege on Israeli shipping routes.

The Israeli Navy detected the flotilla splitting into two groups near Crete, initially believed to complicate naval interception efforts by elite units such as the missile boats and Shayetet 13 commandos. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later assessed this as a tactical ambush, with some vessels attempting to physically block merchant ship passages heading east toward Israel.

The Israeli Navy views the possibility of Iran imposing a maritime blockade in the Mediterranean as a serious strategic threat. This concern follows previous conflicts where Hezbollah, backed by Iran, deployed advanced anti-ship missiles like the Chinese- and Iranian-made C-704 and C-802, the latter having struck the Israeli missile ship Hanit during the 2006 Lebanon War. Hezbollah also possessed longer-range missiles such as the Ghader cruise missile and upgraded Russian Yakhont missiles.

During the recent "Iron Swords" conflict, the Israeli Navy escorted merchant ships to prevent Iranian-backed attempts to enforce a naval siege. Last week, the Navy conducted a large-scale exercise across multiple theaters, including the Mediterranean and Red Sea, simulating scenarios such as a maritime blockade of Israeli shipping. The IDF has warned that any successful attempt to block Israel's maritime routes would be considered a strategic attack, likely triggering a significant Israeli military response.