“Many of us that have visited the occupied territories in Palestine have only come back with one conclusion, that the Palestinians are experiencing a far worse form of apartheid than they ever experienced.”
The grandson of Nelson Mandela has joined the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the siege on Gaza, saying the global community has to continue supporting the Palestinians just as they did to isolate and collapse apartheid in South Africa.
“Our mission is simple, we are bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza, and to end the 18-year blockade, and the siege on Gaza,” Mandla Mandela told journalists before boarding a flight to Tunisia to join the maritime mission.
Mandela’s grandson says joining Gaza flotilla is ‘family legacy’
— @AJEnglish pic.twitter.com/TQOqTChYFG
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@GlobalSumudF) September 5, 2025
He is one of ten South Africans who will join around 200 activists, including politicians and artists from 44 countries, as they endeavour to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave.
“Many of us that have visited the occupied territories in Palestine have only come back with one conclusion, that the Palestinians are experiencing a far worse form of apartheid than they ever experienced,” Mandela stated in a report by Al Jazeera.
Meet the South African delegation 🇿🇦
📷 reaaz_moola (IG) pic.twitter.com/x1YoViIYJL
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@GlobalSumudF) September 5, 2025
“These last two years, what you have been witnessing is a testament to that. We believe that the global community has to continue supporting the Palestinians, just as they stood side-by-side with us,” he emphasized.
Importance of Global Pressure
Mandela stressed that when apartheid ended in South Africa in 1994, it was the result of intense pressure and sanctions from the global community.
Global Sumud Flotilla on the way to Gaza.
Thank you to all who marched, spoke, and resisted. May these ships of resilience reach safely.📷 solbandgaza (IG) pic.twitter.com/YDPrtutXsq
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@GlobalSumudF) September 5, 2025
“They isolated apartheid South Africa and finally collapsed it. We believe that the time has come for that to be done for the Palestinians,” he said.
Vessels in the flotilla, which set sail from Spain earlier this week, will meet ships joining from Tunisia in Tunisian waters before proceeding toward Gaza.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite challenges at the outset of the voyage, including a heavy storm, activists say they are determined to reach Gaza and break Israel’s illegal blockade that has resulted in the deaths of 376 Palestinians, including 134 children, due to famine and malnutrition.
Global Sumud Flotilla resumes its journey from Menorca, bound for Gaza
🎥 gulcin_bekr (IG), yaseminacr_ (IG) pic.twitter.com/4Jh6Qe8ceI
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@GlobalSumudF) September 5, 2025
“We faced storms, high waves, sea sickness—but we overcame everything because we believe in justice and have one goal: to break the illegal siege on Gaza and deliver aid,” flotilla steering committee member, Yasemin Acar, said in a video message from one of the boats.
En Route to Tunis
On Friday, the Global Sumud Flotilla confirmed in a press statement that the flotilla has departed Menorca, where it stopped to refuel and conduct safety checks, and that the majority of vessels “are now en route to Tunis.”
Tunisia and Sicily have adjusted their flotilla launch schedules slightly following delays experienced by the Barcelona fleet, the statement noted.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, in an official statement, confirmed its departure from Menorca, with most vessels now heading toward Tunis. Two of the four boats that underwent storm-related repairs in Barcelona are preparing to rejoin the fleet, as crews conduct additional safety… pic.twitter.com/31uM5pxIht
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@GlobalSumudF) September 5, 2025
On September 7, “dozens of vessels will set sail from the ports of Catania and Tunis, joining the Barcelona fleet in a powerful, united action to challenge Israel’s unlawful siege of Gaza.”
Call to UN Bodies, Governments
The mission called on the international community, UN bodies and governments to “ensure safe passage for the flotilla, protect all participants from unlawful detention and intimidation,” and “uphold the right to humanitarian maritime access to Gaza.”
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Organizers also urged independent media and observers to accompany the mission that has the backing of unions, governments and international organizations, as well as UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, who recently affirmed that the flotilla’s mission “fully complies with international law.”
Dockworkers in the port of Genoa have also pledged to block all shipments to Israel if contact with the flotilla is severed.
Previous Missions Thwarted
Previous Gaza Flotilla missions this year have been thwarted by Israeli forces, with a ship in early May attacked by Israeli drones in international waters near Malta. In June, the Madleen was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters with all 12 activists on board forcibly taken to Israel, where they were detained, interrogated and subsequently deported.
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On July 26, Israeli naval forces intercepted another ship, the Handala, as it neared Gaza’s shores and escorted it to Ashdod Port. The vessel had reached about 70 nautical miles from Gaza, surpassing the distance covered by the Madleen, which made it to 110 miles before being stopped.
Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. The military campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 64,000 Palestinians, with more than 161,500 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.
(PC, Anadolu)
