Global Sumud Flotilla
 Global Sumud Flotilla  (Gaza flotilla)    | |
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| Maritime mission to break the Israeli blockade and bring food, medicines and aid to Gaza |
Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is an international, civil society-led maritime initiative launched in mid-2025, aiming to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. It is named from ṣumūd, Arabic for 'steadfastness' or 'resilience'.[1]
Contents
Background
The GSF emerged in July 2025, amid the genocide in Gaza, through the consolidation of multiple activist and humanitarian movements — including the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Global Movement to Gaza, Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, and Sumud Nusantara — into a coordinated maritime effort.
The GSF claims to be the largest civilian-led maritime convoy in history, comprising over 40 vessels of varying sizes departing from multiple ports around the Mediterranean, and converging toward Gaza. Organisers have gathered involvement or support from activists, doctors and artists representing 46 countries, who include Greta Thunberg, Thiago Ávila, Yasemin Acar (notably participants in the June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla), Robert Martin, Emma Fourreau (participants in the July flotilla), Susan Sarandon, Gustaf Skarsgård, Liam Cunningham, Mark Ruffalo, Zwelivelile Mandela, Abby Martin, Rahma Zein, Tadhg Hickey, Zerocalcare, Alessandro Barbero, Fiorella Mannoia, Alessandro Gassmann, Elisa, Isabella Ferrari, Nina Zilli, Cele Fierro, Luis Tosar, Carlos Bardem, Victoria Luengo, and many others around the world. The steering committee is composed of Thunberg, Ávila, Acar, Kleoniki Alexopoulou, Melanie Schweizer, Karen Moynihan, Maria Elena Delia, Saif Abukeshek, Muhammad Nadir al-Nuri, Marouan Ben Guettaia, Wael Nawar, Hayfa Mansouri and Torkia Chaibi.
46 countries participating
The GSF set sail between August and September 2025, with convoys departing from Genoa on August 30, from Barcelona on August 31, and from Tunis and Catania on September 4; their arrival was estimated for mid-September. Preparatory actions include registration of the participants, along with planned training sessions, solidarity events, and camps near departure points. The Italian cargo consists of 45 tons of aid.
The Genoa vessels, four in total, were saluted during their departure by a crowd of 40,000 citizens. These included mayor Silvia Salis, who drew ties between Gaza and Genoa as a city decorated for its resistance during World War II. The organisers stated that they intend to pressure the Italian foreign ministry for immediate action in the event of an incident; this would include coordinated action from dockworkers across Europe to block all civilian shipments to Israel.
The Spanish convoy had to temporarily return to its port after its initial departure due to bad weather conditions, including winds around 35 mph (56 kph).
International reactions
In Italy, aside from Silvia Salis, other politicians voiced their support for the initiative, including politician Giuseppe Conte who stated that the initiative was an "extraordinary reaction from 'below' to international indifference" on the topic. Italian organisations such as Giustizia Insieme, CGIL and the Italian Federation of Agroindustrial Workers, as well as political parties like the Five Star Movement and Possibile, supported the initiative.
In Spain, former mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau, expressed her support and even participation to the initiative, whilst another Spanish politician and MEP, Jaume Asens, stated he planned to be aboard one of the ships but only for a "few miles", stating his support for the cause. Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares stated that Spain would deploy "all necessary protection" as to secure the safety of all Spanish participants and politicians on board if needed.
In Portugal, the initiative had a mixed reaction despite various members of parliament, including Mariana Mortágua, participating in it. Mortágua expected for her parliamentary legal immunity to help her and the initiative in terms of legal protection and lead to a Portuguese support of the initiative (similiarly with Spain), however, this was denied by Portuguese foreign minister Paulo Rangel who said that Portugal had no way to guarantee such immunity in a diplomatic and international setting of this form aside from consular protection.
In France, the Association France Palestine Solidarité published a "call for arms" as towards French citizens to join the flotilla's voyage.
In South Africa, public support has been observed, including the participation of some individuals such as local members of 'Jews for a Free Palestine'.
President of Colombia Gustavo Petro issued an official statement of support and solidarity with the Flotilla upon its departure.
Israeli reaction
Israeli minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir presented a plan of action on how to stop and react to the Global Sumud Flotilla's arrival. According to him, despite the initiative's humanitarian characteristics, it still was to be considered a threat to "undermine Israel's sovereignty and support Hamas in Gaza." Thus, he proposed that members be sent to Ketziot and Damon prisons and treated as terrorists.
Palestinian reaction
The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, based in Omar Mukhtar Street, Gaza, called for support and solidarity with the flotilla, asking the international community to guarantee the protection of the vessels and its sailors.
Interception and abduction
By September 2025, the GSF comprised 44 vessels with about 500 participants heading for Gaza carrying aid supplies.
By 2 October, forty of the vessels sailing in international waters had been intercepted (or were assumed to have been intercepted) by Israeli forces.[2]
The four vessels still sailing to Gaza were reported to be:
- 25. Marinette
- 28. Mikeno
- 38. Shireen
- 41. Summertime–Jong[3]
By 3 October, Israeli forces had intercepted all 44 vessels, the last being number 25. Marinette.[4]
Greta Thunberg who was on board vessel number 6. Alma said (in a pre-recorded video released after her abduction):
"My name is Greta Thunberg. I'm a citizen of Sweden.
"If you are watching this video, I have been abducted and taken against my will by Israeli forces.
"Our humanitarian mission was non violent and abiding by international law.
"Please tell my government to demand my and the others' immediate release."[5]
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said the GSF activists would be deported once the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur concludes on Thursday.[6]
Related Documents
| Title | Type | Publication date | Author(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document:Letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer | Letter | 2 October 2025 | Andrew Feinstein | Your government – our government – must finally choose to take a stand. To ignore attacks on your own citizens and the blocking of humanitarian assistance is indefensible. The diplomatic waffle has gone on too long and the issue has been brought to your doorstep, with the abduction of your constituent – Ewa Jasiewicz. |
| Document:No one in power respects my grief. Who is coming to console me? | blog post | 5 October 2025 | Jonathan Cook | They want me and millions of other Britons to imagine we are alone in our grief, and that our grief is shameful. They need us to succumb to their lies. But we must never forget. We are many. And it's they, not us, who are the monsters. |
References
- ↑ "Global Sumud Flotilla"
- ↑ "Greta Thunberg and other activists detained as Israeli military intercepts Gaza-bound aid ships"
- ↑ "GSF Live Tracker"
- ↑ "BREAKING: 'Israeli offensive forces' illegally intercept Marinette, the last boat of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, on international waters"
- ↑ "Greta Thunberg abducted by Israeli forces"
- ↑ "Israeli forces board Gaza flotilla, detain Greta Thunberg, other activists"
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