Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Rome, Naples and Turin to protest against the interception by Israel of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Protesters tried to enter Rome's main railway station.

Activists on board the flotilla of vessels sailing toward Gaza say the Israeli navy intercepted three of their boats as they approached the besieged Palestinian territory.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, with Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers aboard, consists of nearly 50 boats and 500 activists and is carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid.

Several activists posted videos on social media late Wednesday in which they said Israeli naval vessels were approaching the flotilla and ordering them to turn their engines off.

AP video shot by: Paolo Santalucia