The Mediterranean became the stage for a bold humanitarian mission as dozens of boats sailed from Barcelona on August 31, 2025, in what organizers are calling the largest civilian flotilla yet to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Known as the Global Sumud Flotilla, the mission brings together activists, politicians, and humanitarian groups determined to deliver food, medicine, and supplies to a population facing deepening crisis.
Among those on board is climate activist Greta Thunberg, whose presence has drawn international attention to the mission. She joins a diverse coalition of voices, including former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and campaigners from across Europe and North Africa. Supporters filled the port of Barcelona waving Palestinian flags and chanting solidarity slogans as the ships prepared to leave.
The convoy will attempt to reach Gaza despite the high likelihood of interception. Previous flotillas—including the Madleen in June and Handala in July—were stopped by Israeli forces in international waters and redirected. Israel argues that its blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas, but flotilla organizers insist their mission is peaceful, lawful, and rooted in the urgent need to provide humanitarian relief.
This new attempt is bigger and broader than earlier ones, with ships expected to join from Genoa in Italy and Tunis in Tunisia, creating a coordinated effort to spotlight the plight of Gaza. For organizers, the flotilla is more than symbolic—it is a call to action, urging governments and institutions to uphold international law and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.
As the boats push deeper into the Mediterranean, the world watches closely. Whether they are stopped or make it through, the Global Sumud Flotilla has already succeeded in drawing renewed global attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and the growing demand for accountability in the face of prolonged suffering.