Aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists, set sail to Gaza
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Greta’s flotilla sails to Gaza to the sound of ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Boycott Israel’ chants
More than 100 aid workers set off from Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday. They are trying to break the world’s longest-running blockade of the Gaza Strip. The blockade was imposed by the Israeli government in the 1970s to stop the flow of arms into the region. The U.S. government says the blockade is necessary to prevent the spread of disease, including cholera, through the territory. The United Nations has called for the blockade to be lifted by the end of the year, but the U.N. says it will continue until then.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protestors gathered at Barcelona’s port to see off the boats, many of them waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine” and “It’s not a war, it’s a genocide”.
“This is a mission to challenge the extremely violent, business-as-usual international system that is failing to uphold international law,” Thunberg told the crowd before the departure of the flotilla of dozens of boats, set to be joined by more along the way.
9 View gallery Barcelona port ( Photo: Reuters/Eva Manez )
The Swedish campaigner tried unsuccessfully to break Israel’s longstanding naval blockade of Gaza by sailing to the territory in June with other activists. Israeli forces seized their small aid ship, and they were deported from Israel.
9 View gallery ( Photo: Reuters/Nacho Doce )
Israel has argued that the blockade imposed in 2007 is necessary to stop weapons being smuggled to the Hamas terror group and has described other attempts to break it – including Thunberg’s in June – as a propaganda stunt in support of Hamas.
9 View gallery ( Photo: Reuters/Nacho Doce )
Organizers of the flotilla blamed global leaders for failing to put pressure on Israel to allow aid to pass after a global hunger monitor said part of Gaza was suffering from famine.
9 View gallery ( Photo: Reuters/Eva Manez )
The flotilla will be joined by more boats setting off from Greece, Italy, and Tunisia, said Yasemin Acar, a member of the steering committee.
9 View gallery ( Photo: Reuters/Nacho Doce )
In the northwestern Italian port of Genoa, some 250 metric tons of food for Gaza have been collected from local groups and residents, organizers said.
9 View gallery ( Photo: Lluis Gene/ AFP )
Some of the aid was loaded on board boats setting off from Genoa on Sunday, while the rest will be sent to the Sicilian port of Catania, from where more vessels are due to leave for Gaza on Sept. 4.
9 View gallery ( Photo: Lluis Gene/ AFP )
9 View gallery ( Photo: Reuters/Eva Manez )
Humanitarian aid flotilla sets sail for Gaza to ‘break illegal siege’
Dozens of vessels set off from the Spanish port city with hundreds of people aboard. Operation will take humanitarian aid, food, water and medicine to Gaza as Israel steps up its offensive in Gaza City. Previous attempts by activists to deliver aid to the enclave by ship have failed, but a French left-wing MEP onboard hopes this larger fleet has a greater chance of success. The aim is to “open a humanitarian corridor and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people”, said the Global Sumud Flotilla’s steering committee. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened in recent weeks, with the U.N. warning that 500,000 people face “catastrophic” conditions. In June, 12 activists on board the sailboat Madleen, from France, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands, were intercepted by Israeli forces 185 kilometres west of Gaza. In July, 21 activists from 10 countries were intercepted as they tried to approach Gaza in another vessel, the Handala.
Dozens of vessels set off from the Spanish port city with hundreds of people aboard, including delegations from some 44 countries.
The operation will take humanitarian aid, food, water and medicine to Gaza as Israel steps up its offensive in Gaza City.
The aim is to “open a humanitarian corridor and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people”, said the Global Sumud Flotilla. Sumud is the Arabic term for “resilience”.
The group defines itself as an independent organisation which has no affiliation to any government or political party.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened in recent weeks.
The United Nations declared a state of famine in the territory this month, warning that 500,000 people face “catastrophic” conditions. Israel rejected the accusation as “a lie”.
People crowd the dock in Barcelona ahead of the launch of a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza. AP – Emilio Morenatti
Also aboard were actors Susan Sarandon, Liam Cunningham, European lawmakers and public figures including former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
The convoy will be joined by other ships from ports in Italy, Greece, and Tunisia in the coming days as it makes its way through the Mediterranean to Gaza, organisers said.
It is expected to arrive at the coastal enclave in mid-September.
“The story here is about Palestine,” Thunberg said at a press conference in Barcelona. “The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive.”
Thunberg, a member of the flotilla’s steering committee, told AFP the goal was to open up a humanitarian corridor to break an “illegal” and “inhuman” blockade of Gaza.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, centre, speaks during a news conference in Barcelona ahead of the launch of a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza. AP – Hernan Munoz
Gaza aid flotilla ‘should not have to exist’ says Thunberg
Largest solidarity mission in history
Activists will also stage simultaneous demonstrations and other protests in 44 countries “in solidarity with the Palestinian people”, Thunberg wrote on Instagram.
“This will be the largest solidarity mission in history, with more people and more boats than all previous attempts combined,” Brazilian activist Thiago Avila told journalists in Barcelona last week.
“We understand that this is a legal mission under international law,” Portuguese lawmaker Mariana Mortagua, who will join the mission, told journalists in Lisbon last week.
Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau delivers a speech at the flotilla launch © Lluis GENE / AFP
NGOs accuse Israel of ‘weaponising’ aid to Gaza as France readies airdrop
Previous attempts
Israel has already blocked two attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza, in June and July.
In June, 12 activists on board the sailboat Madleen, from France, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands, were intercepted by Israeli forces 185 kilometres west of Gaza.
Its passengers, who included Thunberg, were detained and eventually expelled.
In July, 21 activists from 10 countries were intercepted as they tried to approach Gaza in another vessel, the Handala.
Israel sends military to block Gaza-bound aid boat carrying activists
Among them was Emma Fourreau, an MEP with the hard-left France Unbowed party. She told RFI she was more hopeful this time.
“You can see that the scale has changed, that the balance of power is totally different. Maybe we can get some boats through… to break this blockade.”
Activists are calling for their countries to protect the flottilla.
The Spanish government says it will “deploy all of its diplomatic and consular protection to protect our citizens” sailing with the flotilla, the country’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Saturday.
Madrid last year recognised Palestine as an independent state.
Israel launched its massive offensive in Gaza following the 7 October attack by Hamas in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages. At least 63,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war since then, mostly civilians, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
(with AFP)
Greta Thunberg wears ‘We are all Palestine Action’ shirt on journey to Gaza
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Wore Palestine Action t-shirt as she set off on the journey from Barcelona. The eco-activist said: ‘The story here is about Palestine. The story is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive’ It is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000. The flotilla will be the fourth attempt to break the maritime blockade so far this year. The Conscience first tried in May, but was attacked by drones after setting sail from Malta. After the Madleen, the Israeli military stopped another aid ship, the Handala, in late July, detained 21 international activists and reporters and seized its cargo, including baby formula, food and medicine. The group were snatched by Israel while in international waters. They have reportedly been taken to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport to be deported. Most are expected to appear in court in Ashdod, Israel.
Greta Thunberg has shown her support for the British proscribed terror group Palestine Action by wearing their t-shirt as she sets off on a flotilla to deliver vital supplies to Gaza.
She was waved off by thousands of people as she embarked on the journey from Barcelona after being detained by Israeli forces in June.
The eco-activist said: ‘The story here is about Palestine. The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive’.
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As she spoke she wore the ‘We are all Palestine Action’ t-shirt that led to more than 500 people being arrested in Parliament Square earlier this month.
Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Thousands of supporters flocked to the Barcelona pier, some of them wearing kaffiyehs and chanting ‘Free Palestine!’ and ‘Boycott Israel!’ to send off a wide variety of boats, flying Palestinian flags, from rundown old luxury yachts to tiny wooden sailboats and industrial-looking vessels.
Saif Abukeshek greets people while boarding the Flotilla boat on August 31, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Picture: Getty)
One of them, the Sirus, is more than 100 years old.
Ships carrying tons of humanitarian aid departed from the Italian city of Genoa and will join the expedition in the coming days.
The Global Sumud Flotilla will be the fourth attempt to break the maritime blockade so far this year. The Conscience first tried in May, but was attacked by drones after setting sail from Malta. After the Madleen, the Israeli military stopped another aid ship, the Handala, in late July, detained 21 international activists and reporters and seized its cargo, including baby formula, food and medicine, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Thunberg said: ‘It should not have to be up to us. A mission like this should not have to exist.
‘It is the responsibility of countries, of our governments and elected officials to act to try to uphold international law, to prevent war crimes, to prevent genocide.
‘That is their legal duty to do. And they are failing to do so, thereby betraying Palestinians but also all of humanity.’
It’s not the activist’s first journey to Gaza with Thunberg setting sail on the Madleen boat on June 1 along with other activists from France, Ireland, Italy. The group were snatched by Israel while in international waters.
After being taken to an Israeli prison for migrants, the flotilla activists have reportedly been taken to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport to be deported.
People gather on the day of the departure of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian expedition to Gaza, at the port of Barcelona (Pictures: REUTERS)
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said: ‘Some of the “Selfie Yacht” passengers are expected to leave within the next few hours.
‘Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorise their deportation.’
Representatives from each of the activists’ home countries met with them, it has been reported. Most are expected to appear in court in Ashdod, Israel.
The activists were shown a video of the October 7 attacks before being deported, according to Israeli media, but refused to watch the footage.
Their detainment has sparked international outrage, with many pointing out it’s illegal under international law to interfere with freedom of navigation and to block aid.
What is the Freedom Flotilla Coalition?
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a group of people working across the world to end Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
The organisation, which was founded in 2015, have been involved in several missions before.
In 2015, the Freedom Flotilla III set sail from Athens and planned to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, but was intercepted by the Israeli navy around 100 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza.
A year later, a crew of 26 women set sail in 2016 to highlight the struggle of women in Gaza.
It was divided into three legs: Barcelona to Ajaccio, Ajaccio to Messina, and Messina to Gaza. Each leg was crewed by thirteen volunteers with several members alternating at different legs of the voyage.
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Flotilla of ships sets sail from Barcelona in bid to break Israeli blockade on Gaza
The Global Sumud Flotilla, departing from Spain, will try to break the Israeli blockade and bring humanitarian aid, food, water, and medicine to Gaza. The maritime convoy, made up of delegations from 44 countries, will be joined by more ships from ports in Italy, Greece, and Tunisia in the coming days. The leading authority on food crises said Gaza City was in famine and half a million people across the Strip were facing catastrophic levels of hunger. Israeli official said on Saturday that the country will soon halt or slow humanitarian aid into parts of northern Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, departing from Spain, will try to break the Israeli blockade and bring humanitarian aid, food, water, and medicine to Gaza.
The maritime convoy, made up of delegations from 44 countries, will be joined by more ships from ports in Italy, Greece, and Tunisia in the coming days, on its route from the western end of the Mediterranean to the Gaza Strip, according to organisers.
They expect around 20 vessels in total once all are together.
Hours before their departure, boats flying Palestinian flags began docking in line at a pier in Barcelona, while hundreds of supporters chanted “Free Palestine” and “Boycott Israel”.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg told a press conference: “The story here is about Palestine. The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive.
“The story here is how the world can be silent and how those in power… are in every possible way betraying and failing Palestinians and all oppressed peoples of the world.”
Thunberg will be one of the most recognisable figures on the expedition, alongside actors Susan Sarandon and Liam Cunningham, as well as activists, politicians, and journalists.
It is not the first time Thunberg has attempted to reach Gaza waters this year. She was deported in June when the ship she was traveling on with 11 other people, the Madleen, was stopped by the Israeli military.
In late July, the Israeli military stopped another aid ship, detained 21 international activists and reporters, and seized its cargo, including baby formula, food, and medicine, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Earlier this month, the leading authority on food crises said Gaza City was in famine and half a million people across the Strip were facing catastrophic levels of hunger.
An Israeli official said on Saturday that the country will soon halt or slow humanitarian aid into parts of northern Gaza, as it expands its military offensive against Hamas, a day after the city was declared a combat zone.
Gaza’s health ministry said at least 332 Palestinians have died from malnutrition-related causes during the war, including 124 children.
The conflict began on October 7 2023 when an attack by Hamas militants inside Israel claimed the lives of 1200 people, most of them civilians, and took 251 people hostage.
Israel’s retaliatory military operation in Gaza has so far killed more than 63,000 people and displaced virtually the whole population, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Gaza humanitarian flotilla departs Barcelona to break Israeli siege
The Global Sumud Flotilla has left the Spanish port city of Barcelona. Its stated goal is to ‘breaking Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza’ The boats started moving out of the port at approximately 3:30pm on Sunday. Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg spoke out against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. Palestinian activist Saif Abukeshek denounced Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. The maritime convoy, which will carry activists, European lawmakers and public figures from a number of countries, is expected to arrive in Gaza by mid-September. Two previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza were blocked by Israel. The flotilla’s launch comes after the U.N. declared a state of famine in Gaza this month, as Israel doubled down on its push to seize Gaza City and forcibly displace about a million Palestinians living there as part of its plan to take over the enclave. The group is made up of delegations from 44 countries, and will be “joined by many more boats from different ports’
The boats started moving out of the port at approximately 3:30pm on Sunday, with crowds of activists, support staff, and well-wishers there to see the crews off.
Mauricio Morales, reporting from on board the Familia, one of the Flotilla boats, said: “The turnout was overwhelming, I think nobody was expecting so many people to wave goodbye to the volunteers. Spirits are high, people are strangers in this particular boat, but [each has] a particular role.”
Hours before their departure, Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg spoke out against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, as did a number of other high-profile people who were sailing with the Flotilla.
“Israel [is] very clear about their genocidal intent. They want to erase the Palestinian nation. They want to take over the Gaza Strip,” said Thunberg, hitting out at politicians and governments “failing to uphold international law”.
“They 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,” she said.
Saif Abukeshek, a Palestinian activist based in Barcelona, denounced Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. “Palestinians are being starved to death because there is a government that is intentionally starving those people to death,” he said.
“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.”
The flotilla’s launch comes after the United Nations declared a state of famine in Gaza this month, as Israel doubled down on its push to seize Gaza City and forcibly displace about a million Palestinians living there as part of its plan to take over the enclave.
‘We will be back’
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which describes itself as an independent group not linked to any government or political party, did not say how many ships would set sail or the exact time of departure, but Thunberg spoke of “dozens” of vessels.
Sumud means “perseverance” in Arabic.
Everyone who signed up to join the Flotilla believes strongly in its mission.
“It was hard to say goodbye to my two kids, but this is something I am doing because I believe that continuing to document what is happening in Palestine is just a grain of what our colleagues in Gaza and the West Bank are doing … this is easy compared with what they endure every day,” Morales said from on board the Familia.
Yasemin Acar, a flotilla organiser, confirmed that the flotilla, made up of delegations from 44 countries, would be “joined by many more boats from different ports” in Greece, Italy and Tunisia.
The maritime convoy, which will carry activists, European lawmakers and public figures from a number of countries, is expected to arrive in Gaza by mid-September.
Left-wing Portuguese lawmaker Mariana Mortagua, who will join the mission, told journalists in Lisbon last week that the flotilla was “a legal mission under international law”.
Two previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza were blocked by Israel.
In June, 12 activists on board the Madleen were intercepted by Israeli forces 185km (115 miles) west of Gaza. Its passengers, who included Acar and Thunberg, were detained and eventually expelled.
In July, 21 activists from 10 countries were intercepted as they tried to approach Gaza in another vessel, the Handala.
“We tried to … set sail two months ago with the Madleen, and then we set sail with the Handala. And we were attacked, kidnapped, and brought against our will to the Zionist entity. But we did say that we will be back,” said Acar.
Mohamad Elmasry of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies told Al Jazeera the flotilla was “an important act of symbolic resistance” that would “create a spectacle”, with Israel likely to find it “logistically difficult” to deal with the number of vessels arriving at the same time.
“Ultimately, they will be intercepted. They’ll be detained or otherwise sent back,” he 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.”