The Global Sumud Flotilla, joined by the Freedom Flotilla from Sicily, is sailing with over 50 ships and 600 activists to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, aiming to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, announced that it is now approximately 800 kilometers from the enclave, after departing the Greek island of Crete.
Activists on board later updated the distance, reporting that the fleet was 692 kilometers from Gaza and “getting closer every day.”
In a video posted on the Flotilla’s official X account, activists said that two drones had flown at low altitude near their boats overnight, though no attacks were carried out.
Al-Jazeera reported that, according to organizers, 42 ships from Spain, Tunisia, Italy, and Greece are taking part in the flotilla, with protection from the Greek Coast Guard over the past two nights.
Reports said the flotilla was also accompanied by two military vessels from Italy and Spain, as well as Turkish drones. Currently, 532 people are on board, and the fleet is expected to enter the so-called “orange zone” — where interception by Israel is most likely — within three days.
Final stage. Final miles. Final test. pic.twitter.com/8yF9zBG7Uc
— Global Sumud Flotilla Commentary (@GlobalSumudF) September 28, 2025
From aboard the ship Shirin, the Al-Jazeera correspondent said that the collective decision among participants was to “calmly deal with any dangers facing them.”
Meanwhile, a parallel initiative — the Freedom Flotilla — consisting of 10 ships carrying humanitarian aid, set sail from the Italian port of Catania in Sicily on Saturday.
The fleet carries about 60 people of 15 nationalities, including French and other European parliamentarians. Organizers stressed that most of the vessels are transporting medical supplies, dry food, and school materials — identified by Palestinians as urgent priorities.
“This is the first time such a large number of ships have sailed together toward Gaza,” the organizers said, noting that participants represent about 45 countries. A number of ships had previously departed from Barcelona on August 31 and from Genoa on September 1, later joining the main flotilla near Crete.
French MEP Melissa Camara urged EU states to “protect the flotillas so we can deliver the aid we need to the Gaza Strip to save lives.”
Her compatriot, MP Alma Dufour, accused her government of “inaction,” saying: “We are risking our lives because they have done nothing to stop this genocide, and are letting Israel destroy the lives of two million Gazans and decimate the West Bank.”
Coalition spokeswoman Tan Safi stressed that “governments should not only intervene temporarily by mobilizing for their own citizens on the ships they are now escorting, but also for the Palestinians in Gaza.”
The last stretch is here. After weeks at sea, the Flotilla sails with the prayers of millions and the hopes of Gaza’s children pic.twitter.com/GEuAxafkv2
— Global Sumud Flotilla Commentary (@GlobalSumudF) September 28, 2025
She added that despite Israeli threats and recent drone attacks, “we will not stop at any cost. We are setting sail to break the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has denied Palestinians their right to self-determination, sovereignty, and freedom of movement.”
The flotillas aim to break Israel’s 18-year blockade, which has tightened severely in recent months. Since March 2, Israel has closed all crossings, blocking food and humanitarian aid. The United Nations declared last August that the Gaza Strip had entered a state of famine.
With US support, Israel has been waging a war of genocide and starvation against Gaza since October 7, 2023. In nearly two years, this has left about 66,000 Palestinians dead and more than 167,000 wounded, most of them women and children. At least 442 people, including 147 children, have already died of famine.
(PC, AJA)
I know a small percentage of Israeli’s have tried to stop it from going this far, a smaller percentage have been screaming for years about the fascist and genocidal actions that started long before 3 years ago. Israel has the might to murder every last person in Gaza but its arrogance and hatred will ultimately destroy it. The world won’t forget and won’t ALLOW it to stand. It’s “trump” card won’t be there forever. If any person in Israel cared about the future of their nation or children they’d be doing anything to stop this! It’s sad to see a group of survivors stain their hands with so much blood it will never wash away.
Do not forget that the Jews of the world are NOT Israel.
I am from Vancouver,Canada and myself along with thousands of other People around the world support the Global Sumud Flotilla. People around the world will not let Gaza down. It is the western Gov’ts that are betraying Gaza and been complicit in starving the people of Gaza.
The People on the Global Sumud Flotilla are making Progress in the world unlike western Gov’ts. Gaza got world attention and it will continue like that until Palestine is freed from Israeli Occupation from the River to the Sea !