Redazione Italia
Sep 28, 2025
Tonight, we received this dramatic video from Stefano Bertoldi, our collaborator and commander of one of the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Below is the transcript of his appeal, with a request for maximum dissemination.
I am Stefano Bertoldi, commander of the Zefiro, the most heavily hit in the recent drone attacks. Behind me, my colleagues Raffaello and Cesare arrived last night with the boat Luna Park, which you might see on the Global Sumud Flotilla tracker.
I apologize for waking you so early; I know it’s Sunday, and perhaps we all wanted to rest a bit. But the flotilla set sail last night. Approximately 50 boats have departed towards Gaza. I have analyzed the international geopolitical situation and the attitude of our government—irresponsible, starting with Giorgia Meloni and our Minister of Defense Crosetto. We will have no defense; we will not be escorted. We hope Spain does what it should and does not behave like Crosetto, who has clearly stated that, at best, he will collect and assist the wounded.
[Update from Spain 28/09/2025: All confirms Stefano Bertoldi’s warnings regarding Spain: its presence is neither defensive nor a true escort. The Furor (P-46) reportedly set sail on 26/09/2025; it would act only ex post, providing assistance if Israel were to attack the Global Sumud Flotilla or violently block its landing or presence in waters off Gaza. The implicit criticism is clear: despite statements from the Foreign Minister, the Spanish mission appears more a symbolic gesture than a substantial protective measure.]
Please, listen carefully: the flotilla is now at risk. The warning given to us the other day was clear: my boat and another returned seriously damaged by drones. The Zefiro was attacked in a surgical and precise manner because the Israelis probably knew this boat had a mast capable of withstanding the impact we received. The message was unequivocal: if such an attack—speaking to sailors who understand a bit about sailing—were repeated against other boats, many of which have the mast simply resting on the deck, those masts would fall.
Right now, there are only two, perhaps three, people on watch for night navigation, but I’ve already read in the messages exchanged by my colleagues on the route… It’s 4:30 AM Italian time, 5:30 AM in Greece… and in those messages, it is reported that some boats are being escorted by drones, obviously Israeli control drones, perhaps also from Frontex or even Greece. In any case, the situation is this: the next attack, if it comes—and unfortunately, my signals indicate it is likely—will be lethal. It is very possible that this time there will be serious injuries and even deaths.
Please, spread this message. September 22 should not remain an isolated case of mobilization and popular participation. Let’s go to the streets! I know time is short. Political parties and unions are joining; everything helps, we won’t be rigid about that. We know many have just woken up, but as we say in Italy, everything counts. Please, let’s commit: on those boats are our friends, our dear friends. We want their lives to be saved. Let’s not trust our governments: they will do nothing for us. It’s the time of the people, the time of individuals, even those less politically active, even the most skeptical about this mission.
Remember: ours is not a humanitarian mission to deliver a few packages to the Palestinian population of Gaza. Ours is a political mission. The siege must end, the genocide must end, and above all, the lives of unarmed pacifist activists must be protected.
Please, let’s organize, call everyone we can, and go to the streets as soon as possible. I know it’s Sunday, but perhaps it’s the right day to organize for the second Monday of battle in the streets, obviously nonviolently, so we don’t give rise to all the usual criticisms that always occur during demonstrations. I know we’re all angry; I know it’s a socio-economic model of crap, of which Israel is the maximum representative, and also the United States, with that madman they have leading them. Let’s go to the streets, please, listen to me. Fortunately, we’ve been unharmed all these days we’ve been here in Greece, due to an attack that has somehow heavily blocked us.
Let’s go to the streets, call whoever we can honestly who can help us. Our brothers are there, our sons, our friends, fellow sailors, nonviolent sailors who are doing all this for us, for our democracy now buried… we can call it a ‘democrature’… buried by irresponsible governments who, for their ties with Israel, for their wallets, will not help us.
I count on you, I count on the people who will go to the streets. Thank you in advance for what you will do.
⛵ Sumud Global Flotilla situation in real time
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