Global Sumud Flotilla Sets Sail to Gaza in Largest Civilian Rescue Effort Yet

The Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest-ever civilian maritime convoy aiming to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, began setting sail in late August and early September 2025. Over 50 vessels carrying humanitarian aid and international activists departed from Mediterranean ports including Barcelona, Genoa, Sicily, and Greece, converging toward Gaza. Later, additional departures were planned from Tunisia.

The flotilla—coordinated by a coalition of civil society organizations including the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Global Movement to Gaza, Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, and Sumud Nusantara—seeks to deliver food, water, and medical supplies while opening a “people‑led humanitarian corridor” to Gaza.

Ships started setting off from Barcelona on Sunday, August 31, with a second wave departing from Tunis on September 4.

Gathered in Barcelona, high‑profile participants included climate activist Greta Thunberg, actors Liam Cunningham and Susan Sarandon, and other international figures such as Yasemin Acar, Thiago Ávila, and comedian Tadhg Hickey.

Organizers and activists condemned the Israeli blockade as an illegal “siege” and accused international institutions of “failure and complicity.” The mission was described as a global protest—a bid to break what they called “the ongoing genocide” in Gaza.

This flotilla arrives amid escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where famine, mass casualties, and displacement signal a dire need. Participants sought to exert pressure on governments by demonstrating international solidarity and challenging the blockade.

As the convoy heads toward Gaza—with estimated arrival in mid-September—observers closely will watch how Israeli and international authorities respond, and whether this unprecedented civilian-led act can open a life-saving corridor for Palestinians in crisis.