The Global Sumud Flotilla, a coalition of dozens of civilian boats carrying humanitarian aid and activists, is sailing towards the Gaza Strip in a new attempt to challenge the Israeli naval blockade. The flotilla has resumed its journey after pausing for repairs following a drone attack, even as European governments warn of the dangers ahead.
The international aid flotilla has set sail again for Gaza after spending several days in Greek waters to make repairs. The group now consists of approximately 47 civilian vessels, having been joined by Greek boats, which organizers say makes the flotilla "complete". In a social media post, the Global Sumud Flotilla stated, "Brothers and sisters in Gaza, we sail with hope in our hearts. Your resilience is our compass, your struggle is our struggle. Together, we will break the silence of the siege". The activists on board, who include around 40 Italians and Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, aim to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza within the coming week.
The flotilla's journey has already been marked by danger. While in international waters off the coast of Crete, the flotilla was struck by drones armed with stun grenades and irritants, which caused damage to some vessels but no injuries. This was not an isolated incident; organizers reported that the flotilla has been targeted by drones and communications jamming on multiple occasions, including attacks near Greece and twice earlier in Tunisia. During one attack, activists reported at least 13 explosions on or near several boats, and one participant described their VHF radio being hijacked to play music. Israel has not publicly commented on the specific drone incidents but has stated it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza.
The flotilla is sailing into a profound humanitarian crisis. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) reports that four more hospitals in Gaza City were forced to shut down in September alone, leaving only 14 functioning hospitals in the entire territory to cope with an overwhelming number of casualties. The situation in the remaining facilities is critical, with medical teams overwhelmed, severe shortages of supplies, and patients being treated on the floor. UN human rights experts have condemned what they term a "medicide," accusing Israeli forces of the deliberate, systematic destruction of Gaza's healthcare system, which they describe as a "sinister component" of acts of genocide. At Al-Shifa hospital, once Gaza's largest medical complex, doctors describe working in horrific conditions, performing surgeries with minimal to no anesthesia and amputating limbs in filthy conditions while swarmed by flies.
The escalating situation has prompted international action and concern. Both Italy and Spain have deployed navy ships to the area where the flotilla is sailing, stating their purpose is for rescue and humanitarian tasks. Italy's Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, repeated a proposal for the flotilla to divert its aid to Cyprus for distribution by the Roman Catholic Church, warning that "it is dangerous to approach Israeli waters". The flotilla has rejected this suggestion. The European Union has warned against the use of force, with a European Commission spokesperson emphasizing that "the freedom of navigation under international law must be upheld".