The Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest civilian maritime mission ever organized to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, has officially set sail after months of planning, setbacks, and targeted attacks.
The Flotilla began departing in late August 2025 from Barcelona and Genoa, with additional vessels joining from Sicily in early September. The first Tunisian ship left Bizerte on 13 September, followed by others from Bizerte, Gammarth, and Sidi Bou Said over the next two days. By 15 September, sixteen ships had officially set sail from Tunisia, joining boats from Italy and Spain as the convoy pressed eastward toward Gaza.
With over 50 vessels carrying activists, parliamentarians, doctors, artists, and humanitarian cargo from more than 44 countries, the flotilla marks a bold act of defiance against a siege that rights groups, legal experts, and international courts have condemned as part of an ongoing genocide.
What “Sumud” Stands For
The mission takes its name from the Arabic word Sumud, meaning “steadfastness” or “resilience.” Organizers say the flotilla represents global solidarity with Palestinians, combining nonviolent resistance with urgent humanitarian action.
Their aim is to deliver food, medicine, and water filters directly to Gaza, while at the same time forcing the international community to confront the consequences of Israel’s 18-year blockade.
From Global Planning to Tunisian Ports
The flotilla has been over a year in the making, drawing together grassroots groups including the Global March to Gaza, Sumud Convoy, Sumud Nusantara, and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Boats converged from ports in Barcelona, Genoa, and Sicily before assembling in Tunisian waters, where volunteers trained in maritime safety and nonviolence. More than 15,000 people applied to join the mission, but only a fraction could be accommodated.
In recent days, 16 ships departed Tunisian ports in Bizerte, Gammarth, and Sidi Bou Said, while dozens more from Italy and Spain crossed the Mediterranean to join them. According to organizers, the fleet now represents a coordinated convoy of over 50 vessels and hundreds of participants—the largest of its kind in history.
Setbacks, Sabotage, and Attacks
The journey has not been without obstacles. Suspected drones struck two flotilla ships—Family and Alma—earlier this month while docked in Tunisia. The strike set the Alma on fire and damaged Family, which crews later repaired.
Though Tunisian authorities suggested one blaze may have been accidental, organizers insist the attacks were deliberate attempts to intimidate and halt the mission.
“These attacks are meant to demoralize us,” said a flotilla coordinator. “But we are not turning back.”
Mechanical failures and storms also delayed several boats, forcing some to withdraw. Still, the majority of vessels pressed ahead, buoyed by new volunteers and additional aid.
International Backing and Israeli Threats
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for participants to be labeled “terrorists” and the ships seized, but governments around the world have opposed this stance. Indonesia has pledged diplomatic protection for its citizens on board, Malaysia has openly endorsed the flotilla’s aims, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has urged Israel to respect the rights of the 58 Italians—including parliamentarians—sailing with the convoy.
Among the high-profile figures on board are climate activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, and former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, alongside artists, doctors, and lawmakers from across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Sailing Into a Genocide
The mission comes against the backdrop of what legal experts and the International Court of Justice have described as a genocide in Gaza. Since October 2023, Israeli bombardment and ground operations—backed by the United States—have killed nearly 65,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children. Hundreds of thousands have been wounded, and the vast majority of Gaza’s residents have been displaced.
The siege has imposed catastrophic famine conditions. At least 422 people, many of them children, have already died from malnutrition since August, according to humanitarian monitors. Entire neighborhoods lie in ruins, with infrastructure damage described as the worst since World War II.
The International Court of Justice is investigating Israel for genocide, and the International Criminal Court has issued warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on war crimes charges.
A Test of Resolve on the High Seas
For many activists, the Global Sumud Flotilla is a continuation of efforts dating back to the 2010 Mavi Marmara, when Israeli commandos killed 10 civilians during a similar mission. This time, organizers insist, they are prepared for confrontation, but determined to remain peaceful.
With the convoy now moving east across the Mediterranean, its progress will test both the strength of international solidarity and Israel’s willingness to escalate further against unarmed civilians at sea.
Watch videos here:
@novaramedia Greta Thunberg explains why she is joining dozens of other activists on the Global Sumud Flotilla to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza this weekend. #gretathunberg #globalsumudflotilla
@gazafreedomflotilla Six of the seven U.S. citizens aboard the Freedom Flotilla’s ‘Handala’ just read a powerful open letter to Donald Trump and the U.S. government. From the founder of Amazon Labor Union’s to a U.S. war veteran, a lawyer, a marine rescue worker, a human rights attorney, and an actor—each one delivered a searing truth: the U.S. is an active participant in Israel’s war crimes against Palestinian children in Gaza. If the U.S. does not support the deliberate starvation of children, they should guarantee safe passage of ‘Handala’. ‘Handala’ plans to deliver food, medicine, and baby formula to Gaza in a few days. They are unarmed, trained in nonviolence, and yet, are under threat by Israel. If anything happens to them, the world will know who is responsible. Share this. Tag your politicians. Break the silence. Let the world see who’s standing on the right side of history. #PresidentTrump #Handala #SafePassage #FreedomFlotilla #ForTheChildrenOfGaza #StandWithGaza #AllEyesOnDeck
@news_eye The Global Sumud Flotilla is 48 hours away from Gaza. A historic attempt to break the Israeli siege; the largest maritime, civilian rebellion of the 21st century. And not a single, major western media outlet is covering it. #Gaza #Israel #war #news #breakingnews
♬ Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 – London Philharmonic Orchestra
Keep up with the Sumud Flotilla on Instagram.
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