AUG 5, 2025
Organizers say the mission aims to open a sea route to Gaza after repeated Israeli seizures of civilian aid vessels in international waters
(Photo credit: cjpme)
Activists from 44 countries plan to launch the largest civilian flotilla in history at the end of August in an effort to break Israel’s siege on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the starving population of the enclave.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, along with three allied initiatives, will send dozens of boats from Spanish ports on 31 August and Tunisian ports on 4 September, aiming to establish a humanitarian corridor and confront what organizers call Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.
“This summer, dozens of boats, both large and small, will set sail from ports across the world, converging on Gaza in the largest civilian flotilla of its kind in history,” said organizer Haifa Mansouri at a press conference in Tunis hosted by the Joint Action Coordination for Palestine.
The mission brings together four groups: the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, the Global Movement to Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, and Sumud Nusantara.
Activists from 44 countries will launch the largest civilian flotilla in history at the end of August in a bid to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and deliver aid. Organized by the Global Sumud (Resilience) Flotilla and three allied initiatives, dozens of boats will depart from… pic.twitter.com/UHcZdVSghV
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) August 5, 2025
Mansouri said the goal is to “break the illegal blockade on Gaza by sea, establish a humanitarian corridor, and confront the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.”
Seif Abu Keshk, another organizer, said over 6,000 activists have registered to take part. “Participants will undergo training at departure points, with solidarity events and encampments planned along the way,” he said.
“This is a renewed attempt to pressure governments by sending dozens of ships and thousands of activists to break Gaza’s blockade.”
The announcement comes days after Israeli naval forces intercepted the Handala aid ship on 26 July as it neared Gaza, seizing the vessel in international waters and towing it to Ashdod. According to the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG), the Handala had reached roughly 70 nautical miles from Gaza’s shores.
The Handala was operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and carried 21 unarmed civilians from several western countries, including EU parliamentarian Emma Fourreau, French National Assembly member Gabrielle Cathala, and two Al Jazeera journalists.
Israeli forces held the activists at gunpoint, disabled all recording equipment, and denied them access to legal counsel.
The Adala Human Rights Center said the arrest violated international law that not only permits but also encourages civilians to undertake peaceful humanitarian missions in such circumstances.
On 9 June, Israeli forces also seized the Madleen in international waters, detaining 12 activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and EU lawmaker Rima Hassan.
The vessel, carrying medical supplies and baby formula, was surrounded by Israeli navy vessels and drones before being boarded and dragged to Ashdod.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry mocked the participants, while Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed he ordered the detainees to be shown Israeli military footage.
The European Left group denounced the seizure as a “blatant violation of international law” and accused Tel Aviv of using starvation as a weapon to conceal its war crimes in Gaza.
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