Barcelona
A powerful civilian-led mission, known as the Global Sumud Flotilla, has departed from the port of Barcelona, embarking on a courageous effort to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. The flotilla’s mission is to deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid—food, water, medicine—and to demand the opening of a humanitarian sea corridor to the besieged enclave.
Largest-ever solidarity mission
The convoy includes around 20 vessels, representing 44 countries, and is expected to be joined by many more from Italy, Tunisia, Greece, and Sicily, bringing the total to as many as 70 boats by mid-September.
High-profile participants
Among those aboard are environmental activist Greta Thunberg, political figures like Ada Colau (former mayor of Barcelona), and actress Susan Sarandon, joined by hundreds of other volunteers—from medics and journalists to activists and European lawmakers.
Thunberg passionately denounced international inertia, accusing governments of failing to uphold basic international law.
Symbolic nonviolent resistance
Organizers emphasize that this mission is peaceful and rooted in civil solidarity. Training and preparations involved volunteers from dozens of countries, undergoing nonviolent-action training and readiness for possible confrontation.
“As volunteers, we are not the story; the story is the people of Gaza,” stated Thiago Ávila, one of the organizers.
What lies ahead
The flotilla is expected to reach Gaza by mid-September. Analysts suggest that while Israel may intercept the vessels, the scale and determination of this convoy could make such an operation more logistically challenging.