‘Civil Activism’: Gaza Flotilla Pushes through Heavy Storms, Drone Surveillance

September 3, 2025 News
The Global Sumud Flotilla is ready to set sail. (Photo: via social media)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

On Tuesday night, several drones approached the flotilla in what one of the organizers called “a likely combination of psychological intimidation and intel gathering.”

Participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international maritime initiative launched to break the illegal Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, have begun gathering in Tunisia.

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.

Earlier on Wednesday, the flotilla “made a refueling and safety stop in Menorca,” after heavy storms, the Global Sumud Flotilla announced on X.

“Crews are ensuring well-being before continuing toward Gaza,” the coalition said.

‘Multiple Drones’

On Tuesday night, several drones approached the flotilla in what one of the organizers called “psychological intimidation.”

“We know that (for) a mission like ours, spotting drones is an alert situation because four months ago our boat was bombed by two Israeli drones,” Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila stated in an interview.

 

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He said the boat Familia was approached by multiple drones, “as a likely combination of psychological intimidation and intel gathering,” according to an Instagram post shared by the Flotilla.

Ávila stated that “all security protocols” were activated, adding that “while seeing drones of unknown origin fly above our heads is certainly unsettling and activated safety protocols, it’s important that I point out that in Gaza Palestinians are living under 24/7 weaponized Israeli drones hovering above them.”

He said what is important to ask is “who exactly is paying for these drones?” adding, “And why is our humanitarian mission so intimidating that they feel the need to do this?”

A member of the mission’s steering committee, Ávila was on board another boat, the Madleen, that attempted to break the siege 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.

In early May, another ship attempting to reach Gaza was attacked by Israeli drones in international waters near Malta.

Continuation of Earlier Attempts

The current flotilla, carrying activists and humanitarian aid to Gaza, departed Barcelona’s port late Monday after bad weather forced its return on Sunday.

“The Global Sumud Flotilla is, in fact, a continuation of earlier attempts that began with the Mavi Marmara, followed by the Madleen and Hanzala ships,” Aycin Kantoglu, a member of the Turkish delegation, told the Anadolu news agency. “This time, nearly 1,000 activists from 44 countries are attempting once again to break the blockade.”

Underlining the historic nature of the effort, Kantoglu said: “I believe this will go down in history as the first time in the world that nearly 1,000 activists from dozens of countries have come together to form a flotilla at sea.”

He stressed that from “the perspective of civil activism, it is an honor to take part. We are here to do our part to restore human dignity.”

Months-Long Preparation

Dr. Mohammed Amin Bennur, a Tunisian human rights activist and member of the flotilla’s Tunisian delegation, highlighted the initiative’s international scope, saying: “This is not an individual effort but an international initiative requiring coordination between different states and institutions.”

“Preparations lasted more than three months and were very complex. Ship preparations, team coordination, sea route planning, and engagement with different countries required intensive work,” he added.

Bennur said Tunisia “will be the final departure point for the convoy heading to Gaza.”

Italian Lawmakers to Join

Four Italian lawmakers will also take part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, Italian media reported Wednesday, according to Anadolu.

The delegation includes European Parliament members Benedetta Scuderi and Annalisa Corrado, as well as Democratic Party (PD) lawmaker Arturo Scotto and Five Star Movement (M5S) Senator Marco Croatti, according to the ANSA news agency.

“They decided to put their bodies on the line. Imagine how important this is,” said Maria Elena Delia, spokesperson for the Italian delegation of the Global Movement to Gaza, during a Senate conference.

The leadership of the M5S group in the Chamber of Deputies said they submitted a parliamentary question to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, asking what steps the government intends to take to protect flotilla participants.

The Challenge of Genoa’s Dockworkers: ‘If They Touch the Flotilla, We Will Block Europe’

‘Moral Warriors’ – Albanese

UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, offered her support for the flotilla, saying those on board “are moral warriors, where States remain inactive. And complicit.”

“I am with you, and with all those standing for justice, human rights and dignity. We build peace with peace, not weapons. Gaza is not alone,” Albanese stated on X. 

Hundreds of Participants

Around 200 activists, politicians and artists from 44 countries initially set sail on Sunday from Barcelona after a large rally in support of the mission.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, Spanish actor Eduardo Fernandez and former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau are taking part in the voyage. Several journalists are also on board.

Organizers said the flotilla will be joined by more ships departing from Italy and Tunisia, bringing the total to more than 500 people and around 60 vessels.

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.

(PC, Anadolu)

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