Attacks and incitement against the Global Sumud Flotilla

The Global Sumud Flotilla is the largest international civil attempt since 2010’s “Freedom Flotilla” to challenge the Gaza blockade. It's a a civil, non-violent flotilla initiative launched in mid-2025 to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, deliver humanitarian aid, and open a solidarity corridor. It's organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Global Movement to Gaza, Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, and Sumud Nusantara in order to unite Western activists and Arab/Muslim solidarity movements nd despite harassment, Israeli attacks, and political pressure, the flotilla has drawn major global attention to Gaza’s isolation.

“Sumud” means steadfastness in Arabic.

The activists, doctors, artists, and volunteers comes from ~44 countries. With notable figures: Greta Thunberg, Spanish politician Ada Colau, and activists from the Arab world.

Different departure: from late August (31 in Barcelona) to current September 2025 from Genoa, Catania, Syros (Greece), Tunis, Lisbon. The flotilla planned to converge in the eastern Mediterranean en route to Gaza.

Previous attempts to break the siege by sea

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Israeli attacks and undetermined incidents

Drone attacks, explosions, GPS jamming reported during the journey (no casualties).

Some vessels delayed or blocked by authorities citing “security risks” and rough seas.

Israeli smear campaigns accused flotilla of aiding Hamas — organizers deny this.

On October 1, the vessels intercepted by the Israeli forces in International waters are:

1. Alma (Deir al-Balah) intercepted on 1 Oct 2025 16:06 UTC Speed 4.32 knots Course 135° Position 31.9026, 32.8465 DDM 31°54.155′ N, 32°50.791′ E MMSI #232063368

2. Sirius (Askalan) intercepted on 1 Oct 2025 17:06 UTC Speed 4.91 knots Course 135° Position 31.8696, 32.9119 DDM 31°52.173′ N, 32°54.716′ E MMSI # 225998514

3. Huga (Haifa) intercepted on 1 Oct 2025 17:34 UTC Speed: 5.99 knots Course: 135° Position: 31.8730, 32.9148 DDM 31°52.383′ N, 32°54.886′ E

4. Spectre (Tabariya) intercepted on 1 Oct 2025 17:50 UTC Speed 4.32 knots Course 135° Position 31.8617, 32.9334 DDM 31°51.700′ N, 32°56.002′ E MMSI #224112480

5. Dir yassine (Mali) intercepted on 1 Oct 2025 18:07 UTC Course 112.5° Position 31.8616, 32.9497 DDM 31°51.698′ N, 32°56.983′ E

6. Adara (Beit Lahia) intercepted ON 1 Oct 2025 19:32 UTC Speed 1.00 knots Position 31.7846, 33.0390 DDM 31°47.076′ N, 33°2.342′ E MMSI # 225989745

7. Karma (Yafa) intercepted on 1 Oct 2025 20:23 UTC Speed: 4.91 knots Course: 112.5° Position: 31.8080, 33.1019 DDM: 31°48.482′ N, 33°6.113′ E
   -> But seems continuing to sail.

8. Grande Blu (Ariha) intercepted on 1 Oct 2025 17:45 UTC Speed: 4.32 knots Course: 112.5° Position: 31.8591, 32.9489 DDM 31°51.543′ N, 32°56.935′ E (On the Youtube livestream the boat was surrouned at 22:23, and their communications were jammed)

International responses

09 September 2025, UN experts, including Franceska Alabanese, stand in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla, demand full protection of all passengers, urging Israel to cease all threats of harm against the Global Sumud Flotilla and ensure it proceeds unhindered in its mission to deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza: “Any attempt to block the flotilla would constitute a grave violation of international law and humanitarian principles,” the experts said.

Belgium and other governments demanded a transparent investigation into attacks on the flotilla. Turkey, Arab states, and NGOs called for respect of international law and safety of civilian ships.

Western coverage often emphasizes “risk and danger,” while Arab press frames it as resistance to the blockade and a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians.

On September 24, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto strongly condemned the overnight drone attack on the flotilla, which is trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a statement, Crosetto said he had redirected an Italian navy ship to head towards the flotilla to offer assistance to Italian citizens on board - and Israel had been informed : "Regarding the attack suffered in recent hours by the Sumud Flotilla vessels, which also include Italian citizens, carried out using drones by currently unidentified perpetrators, we can only express the strongest condemnation. In a democracy, even demonstrations and protests must be protected when they are conducted in compliance with international law and without resorting to violence,” (...) “To ensure assistance to the Italian citizens on the ‘Flotilla,’ this morning at 3:50 a.m … I spoke with the Prime Minister and authorized the immediate intervention of the Italian Navy's multi-purpose frigate Fasan, which was sailing north of Crete as part of Operation Mare Sicuro. The frigate is already en route to the area for possible rescue operations. The Israeli Military Attaché in Italy, our Ambassador and the Military Attaché in Tel Aviv, and the Crisis Unit of the Farnesina have been informed of this decision.”

On September 29, Turkiye joined Spain, Italy and Greece in monitoring the Global Sumud Flotilla, flight data shows. Flight tracking websites showed that three long-endurance drones originating from Turkiye’s Corlu airbase have been circling over the flotilla for three days.

Timeline of the incidents:

Aug 30, 2025: Italian convoy departs from Genoa.

Aug 31, 2025: Spanish convoy leaves from Barcelona. Forced back to port due to bad weather.

Sept 1, 2025: New attempt to sail from Barcelona after interruption by storms.

Sept 5, 2025: French actress Adèle Haenel joins the flotilla from Tunis. Tunisian departure delayed.

Sept 7–10, 2025: Multiple delays from Tunisian ports (Bizerte, Sidi Bou Said) due to weather and logistics. Tunisian authorities delay departures citing “security reasons.” Some activists accuse Israel of pressure.

September 8, 2025: The lead vessel, Familia Madeira, carrying activists including Greta Thunberg, Ada Colau, and Thiago Ávila, is reportedly attacked by a drone dropping an incendiary device near the port of Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia. The fire is extinguished without injuries.

**September 10, 2025: **Another vessel in the flotilla is targeted by a drone attack in the same area, but no injuries are reported.

Sept 24, 2025: Drones and GPS jamming attack several flotilla vessels south of Greece. At least 13 explosions reported near the boats. Sept 24, 2025 Drone & GPS jamming attack south of Greece At least 13 explosions near flotilla vessels, drones overhead, communication systems disrupted.One Activist injured by chemical agent dropped on his vessel is hospitalized in Greece.

Sept 26–27, 2025: Mechanical failure lead ship suffers engine breakdown in Crete, delaying final departure toward Gaza. Activists call it “sabotage.”

Sept 26–28, 2025: Italy and Spain dispatch naval vessels for protection.

Sept 30, 2025: Turkey dispatched a naval vessel for protection. An Italian military vessel and the Italian government urged the Flotilla to abandon the mission, stating that the vessel would not enter Palestinian territorial waters. The GSF released a statement about this withdrawal.

Oct 1st, 2025: In the night 2 vessels faced intimidation: an Israeli military vessel circled the Alma and Sirius boats, launched a cyber attack, which created a lot of damage to equipements.

Israeli (and allies) incitement campaign against GSF

Ongoing (Sept 2025) Smear campaign Israeli officials accuse flotilla of aiding Hamas; organizers deny, insisting on humanitarian purpose. Elaph, Mada Masr

1. On September 29, Turkish filmmaker Necmi Sancak says his debut feature Ayse was pulled from theatrical release in Turkiye after he joined the Global Sumud Flotilla in protesting Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

2. On September 30, the X account of Israel Foreign Ministry released a framing reflects Israeli hasbara (propaganda) intended to delegitimize the Global Sumud Flotilla and justify future measures against it. Exposed (according to Israeli sources): Official Hamas documents allegedly found in the Gaza Strip — and revealed for the first time — are claimed to prove Hamas’s direct involvement in the funding and execution of the “Sumud” flotilla to Gaza. According to this narrative, the documents show links between flotilla leaders and the Hamas-aligned PCPA (Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad), which Israel designated as a terrorist organization in 2021. One document is described as a 2021 letter from Ismail Haniyeh endorsing the PCPA, while another allegedly lists PCPA operatives such as Zaher Birawi (UK) and Saif Abu Kashk (Spain). Israeli reports further claim that Abu Kashk, CEO of a Spanish company called Cyber Neptune, controls ships participating in the flotilla, presenting them as effectively owned by Hamas.

The statement and attached pictures and documents were denounced by Muhammed Shehada (@muhammadshehad2), from the Middle East Human Rights Monitor, Post "Israel's gov is putting a target on the back of @GretaThunberg; labelling her & the entire flotilla as "Hamas" ahead of the flotilla's imminent arrival to Gaza's sea space.Today, every single Israeli newspaper has published this faked doc to preempt Israel's planned attack on the ships.Reminder: Israel published 2 similar "Hamas documents" last year in Bild & the Jewish Chronicle only for us to learn that both documents were total fakes! Israel similarly published fake "Hamas documents" ahead of the assassination of Anas al-Sharif, Mahmoud Shabat & other journalists!"

Verified Participants

Greta Thunberg – Swedish climate activist, Ada Colau – Former mayor of Barcelona, Spain, Adèle Haenel – French actress, Liam Cunningham – Irish actor (Game of Thrones), Eduard Fernández – Spanish actor, Thiago Ávila – Brazilian activist, Yasemin Acar – Turkish-German activist, Robert Martin – Australian activist, Tony La Piccirella – Australian activist, Cele Fierro – U.S. activist, Sofia Aparício – Portuguese activist, Zwelivelile Mandela – South African activist, grandson of Nelson Mandela, Tadhg Hickey – Irish activist, Mariana Mortágua – Portuguese politician, Bruno Gilga – Brazilian activist, Phillip Tottenham – U.S. veteran, Veterans for Peace member, Bob Suberi – U.S. activist, Braedon Peluso – U.S. activist, Alexis Deswaef – Belgian activist, Bénédicte Linard – Belgian politician, Enissa Amani – German-Iranian actress

Global Sumud Flotilla – Steering Committee

1. Kleoniki Alexopoulou (Greece / Global Movement to Gaza) – Historian and activist in leftist and humanitarian initiatives, involved in pro-Palestinian solidarity in US campuses.
2. Yasemin Acar (Turkey–Germany / Freedom Flotilla Coalition) – Human rights organizer, co-founded Berlin Arrival Support, longtime Palestine solidarity activist, crew member of the Madleen.
3. Thiago Ávila (Brazil / Freedom Flotilla Coalition) – Socio-environmentalist, communicator, veteran solidarity activist; imprisoned and deported after the Madleen mission.
4. Maria Elena Delia (Italy / Global Movement to Gaza & Freedom Flotilla) – Physicist and humanitarian, founding member of Free Gaza Movement, board member of Vittorio Arrigoni Foundation.
5. Saif Abukeshek (Palestine–Spain / Global Movement to Gaza) – Palestinian activist in Barcelona, organizer in European solidarity networks, chair of the Global Coalition Against the Occupation.
6. Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri (Malaysia / Cinta Gaza Malaysia) – Humanitarian leader, raised over $20M for Gaza, founder of CGM, prominent public voice with 500k followers.
7. Marouan Ben Guettaia (Algeria / Jil Tarjih Leadership Academy) – Political activist and trainer, mobilizes Maghreb civil society for Palestine, member of Sumud Convoy.
8. Wael Nawar (Tunisia / Sumud Convoy) – Former student union leader, ex-political prisoner, veteran activist, co-founder of Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine.
9. Hayfa Mansouri (Tunisia / Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine) – Sociologist and activist, involved in boycott campaigns and civil society coalitions for Palestine.
10. Torkia Chaibi (Tunisia / Million Rural Women and the Landless, La Via Campesina) – Peasant movement leader since 1985, represents rural women and La Via Campesina on the flotilla steering committee.

Victims names:

1. Pro-Palestine advocate Ayman Al-Bubhiri, who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, has stepped back from the journey and was moved to a hospital in Greece after medical tests revealed he had inhaled toxic chemicals, along with other supporters. He was trying to document the Israeli attack on the fleet, which was carried out in an attempt to stop it from sailing and ultimately breaking the blockade on the Gaza Strip.