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Twenty ships with more than 300 crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, departed from the port of Barcelona on Sunday to Gaza in an effort to establish a humanitarian corridor.

The Global Sumud Flotilla will be the fourth attempt to break the maritime blockade so far this year, it is the largest attempt yet to break the long-standing Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory by sea.

Among the crew of the flotilla is Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who has said that “little by little every day people are waking up to this genocide” and criticises the world’s silence in the face of Israel’s disregard for international law.

Irish actor Liam Cunningham, known for his role in the series “Games of Thrones,” will also take part. In a news conference before the departure in Barcelona, Cunningham played a video showing a girl singing while planning her own funeral. The girl, Fatima, died four days ago, he said.

“What sort of world have we slid into where children are making their own funeral arrangements?” the Irish actor told reporters.

The former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, was also present at the farewell ceremony. He highlighted the city’s historic commitment to the Palestinian cause, recalling that Barcelona was “the first city in Europe to break off institutional relations with Israel”.

Spanish actor Eduard Fernández also showed his support, describing each boat as “a cry for dignity.” Spain was one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine, in May 2024.

People hold Palestinian flags as they bid farewell to activists setting sail to join a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, August 31, 2025. AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

Meanwhile in the Italian city of Genoa, a food drive raised the collection of more than 300 tonnes of humanitarian aid. Ships carrying the aid departed from the city and will join the expedition in the coming days.

On Saturday, 40,000 people took part in a torchlit march in the city to celebrate the flotilla.

The mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis, also took part in the march, declaring herself “proud to be the mayor of this city, but tonight even more so.”

Representatives of the Democratic Party and the Greens and Left Alliance have shown their support and called on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government to guarantee protection for Italian citizens heading for Gaza.

In Portugal, participation in the flotilla has generated political controversy. Mariana Mortágua, MP and coordinator of the Left Bloc, along with activist Miguel Duarte and actress Sofia Aparício, are part of the Portuguese crew.

Mortágua hoped that her parliamentary immunity could be useful for the mission, but Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel clarified that “parliamentary immunity does not confer diplomatic immunity” and that the Portuguese government “has no obligation to protect nor accompany” the humanitarian flotilla under international law.

However, the crew members will receive consular protection, which is applicable to any Portuguese citizen.

“The Portuguese state uses consular protection if there is any problem,” Rangel reassured.

Flotilla objectives and denunciation of Israel’s offensive in Gaza

Flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek explained that the mission seeks to establish a humanitarian corridor to Gaza, where more than 63,000 people were killed by Israel, many of them children. According to his testimony, the lack of water, electricity and food in the Palestinian territory “is intentional,” as is the bombing of hospitals and schools.

Around 70 boats are expected to take part in the final leg of the journey, Abukeshek told Spanish public television after the departure. The fleet could reach Gaza around Sept. 14 or 15, he added.

German human rights activist Yasemin Acar, a member of the steering committee, said the flotilla will be joined by more boats setting off from Greece, Italy and Tunisia.

Acar also condemned the killing of journalists in Gaza and accused several countries of being complicit in what he described as genocide.

Government backing and background

The initiative received backing from the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, who affirmed that Spain will provide “all the necessary protection” for its Spanish crew members.

He emphasised that the Spanish government has long been calling for unrestricted access to Gaza for humanitarian workers and pledged the same level of consular support that was extended to previous flotillas.

Activist Greta Thunberg aboard the Madleen boat before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli

Nevertheless, the mission faces troubling precedents. In the past, Israeli military forces have intercepted other flotillas attempting to reach Gaza, including the well-known Freedom Flotilla. Israeli forces had forcefully boarded the vessel, confiscating medical supplies and food intended for Palestinians in Gaza.

Despite these risks, the organisers remain resolute: “We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we are absolutely certain we will organise again.”

Another humanitarian flotilla aiming to disrupt Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza departed Barcelona on Sunday, carrying supplies including food, water and medicine. With hundreds of activists from 44 countries sailing aboard dozens of ships, Global Sumud Flotilla says this will be its largest attempt at delivering much-needed aid to the enclave.

“In August and September 2025, boats of all sizes will set sail from ports around the world, converging toward Gaza to open a humanitarian corridor by sea,” the group writes on its official website. “Independent of any government or political party, GSF is guided by a commitment to justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life.”

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Delivering aid amid Israel’s Gaza City takeover

Around 3:30 p.m. local time Sunday, the first of those boats set sail from a port in Barcelona. Thousands of supporters turned out to see the ships off.

Over the next few days, the Barcelona ships will be joined by additional vessels stocked with food, water and medicine departing from Italy, Tunisia and Greece.

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s departure comes days after Israel launched a full-scale invasion of Gaza City, and as famine grips swaths of the enclave and increasing numbers of Palestinians die from malnutrition-related causes. The renewed fighting led to “tactical pauses” in aid for Gazans as the United Nations warns of widespread starvation unless food and medical supplies are allowed to flow freely into the Gaza Strip.

Upwards of 70 vessels of various sizes will ultimately join the Global Sumud Flotilla. It is expected to reach Gaza’s maritime borders by Sept. 14 or 15. While Israel’s current war in Gaza is stretching into its 23rd month, the country’s blockade of Gaza by sea has lasted nearly two decades.

“Israel [is] very clear about their genocidal intent. They want to erase the Palestinian nation. They want to take over the Gaza Strip,” activist Greta Thunberg said shortly before the flotilla left the docks. She added that politicians and world leaders are “failing to do their most basic, legal duties to act, to prevent a genocide, to stop their complicity and support for … the occupation and the genocide of Palestinians.”

In the nearly two years since Israel launched its war in Gaza, more than 90% of the enclave’s Palestinian population has been displaced at least once. Some in the international community have also accused Israel of committing genocide and deliberately facilitating mass starvation.

People react as they bid farewell to activists setting sail on their boats to join a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade and delivering humanitarian aid, in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, August 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

People crowd the dock ahead of the launch of a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

People crowd the dock ahead of the launch of a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Demonstrators shout slogans on a boat ahead of the launch of a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, center left, waves from a boat taking part in a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Activists wave on a boat taking part in a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

People hold Palestinian flags as they bid farewell to activists setting sail on their boats to join a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade and delivering humanitarian aid, in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, August 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Activists wave on a boat taking part in a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

People hold Palestinian flags as they bid farewell to activists setting sail on their boats to join a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade and delivering humanitarian aid, in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, August 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies the accusations, though he has never provided evidence to contradict the claims of the international community. Similarly, a recent investigation found that Israeli military records suggest 83% of those killed in Gaza are civilians. The death toll currently stands at nearly 63,500.

“Palestinians are being starved to death because there is a government that is intentionally starving those people to death,” said Saif Abukeshek, a flotilla spokesperson based in Barcelona. “There is a government that is intentionally bombing Palestinian kids and families every day for the purpose of killing as many Palestinians as possible.”

Abukeshek added, “When you bomb hospitals, when you bomb schools, when you bomb educational centres, your main aim is basically to … end the presence of the Palestinian population.”

‘Important act of symbolic resistance’

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mohamad Elmasry of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies called the flotilla “an important act of symbolic resistance.” However, he conceded that, while the sheer number of the ships will cause a logistical nightmare for the Israeli Defense Forces, the flotilla will probably be unsuccessful in its mission.

“Ultimately, they will be intercepted. They’ll be detained or otherwise sent back,” Elmasry said. “This is not going to solve the famine. What’s going to solve the famine, ultimately, is governments doing their job to stop genocide and deliberate starvation programmes.”

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Similar efforts led by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition have already been unsuccessful in their attempts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza’s shores.

On June 9, Israeli naval forces intercepted a British-flagged aid vessel, the Madleen, detaining Thunberg and a group of international volunteers.

A previous attempt by the group had also failed in May after the crew said it was struck by a pair of drones while sailing near Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which did not officially respond to the accusations.

More recently, in July, the Handala was intercepted. Twenty-one activists and reporters aboard the ship were detained, while its cargo –– baby formula, food and medicine –– was seized.

“It has been very clear that Israel has been continuously violating international law by either attacking, unlawfully intercepting the boats in international waters, and continuously preventing the humanitarian aid from coming in,” Thunberg told The Associated Press on Saturday.

A flotilla of ships departed from Barcelona to the Gaza Strip Sunday pinch humanitarian assistance and activists connected committee successful the largest effort yet to break the agelong Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory by sea.

This comes as Israel has stepped up its violative on Gaza City, limiting the deliveries of nutrient and basal supplies successful the northbound of the Palestinian territory. Food experts warned earlier this period that the city was successful famine and that half a cardinal group crossed the portion were facing catastrophic levels of hunger.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is carrying food, h2o and medicine. Activists connected committee demanded safe passage to deliver the much-needed assistance and the opening of a humanitarian oversea corridor, according to a statement. The almost 23-month conflict has killed much than 63,000 people, pinch astatine slightest 332 Palestinians dying of malnutrition, including 124 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The maritime convoy of about 20 boats and delegations from 44 countries is claimed to be the largest attempt to date to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip by sea, which has now lasted 18 years. They will beryllium joined by more ships from ports successful Italy and Tunisia successful the coming days, connected the way from the occidental extremity of the Mediterranean to the Gaza Strip, organizers said.

Thousands of supporters flocked to the Barcelona pier, immoderate of them wearing kaffiyehs and chanting “Free Palestine!” and “Boycott Israel!” to send disconnected a wide assortment of boats, flying Palestinian flags, from rundown aged luxury yachts to tiny woody sailboats and industrial-looking vessels. One of them, the Sirus, is much than 100 years old.

Around 70 boats are expected to take portion successful the last limb of the journey, flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek told Spanish nationalist tv aft the departure. The fleet could reach Gaza around Sept. 14 aliases 15, he added.

“The communicative present is about Palestine. The communicative present is really group are being deliberately deprived of the very basal means to survive,” said Swedish activist Greta Thunberg at a news conference. She is 1 of the about recognizable figures connected the expedition, formed by hundreds of activists, politicians specified arsenic the erstwhile politician of Barcelona, Ada Colau, and journalists.

Ships carrying tons of humanitarian assistance departed from the Italian metropolis of Genoa and will subordinate the expedition successful the coming days.

It is not the first clip Thunberg has attempted to reach Gaza waters this year. She was deported by Israel successful June when the vessel she was walking connected pinch 11 different people, the Madleen, was stopped by the Israeli military.

“It has been very clear that Israel has been continuously violating world rule by either attacking, unlawfully intercepting the boats successful world waters, and continuously preventing the humanitarian assistance from coming in,” said Thunberg successful an question and reply pinch The Associated Press connected Saturday.

The Global Sumud Flotilla will beryllium the 4th attempt to break the maritime blockade truthful acold this year. The Conscience first tried successful May, but was attacked by drones aft mounting sail from Malta.

After the Madleen, the Israeli subject stopped different assistance ship, the Handala, successful precocious July, detained 21 world activists and reporters and seized its cargo, including babe formula, nutrient and medicine, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

In a news convention earlier the departure in Barcelona, character Liam Cunningham played a video showing a woman singing while readying her ain funeral. The girl, Fatima, died 4 days ago, he said.

“What benignant of world person we slid into wherever children are making their ain ceremonial arrangements?” Cunningham told reporters.

An Israeli charismatic said Saturday that the country will soon halt aliases slow humanitarian aid into parts of northern Gaza, arsenic it expands its subject violative against Hamas, a time aft the metropolis was declared a combat zone.

The conflict began connected Oct. 7, 2023, erstwhile an onslaught by Hamas militants wrong Israel claimed the lives of 1,200 people, about of them civilians, and took 251 group hostage.

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