In the early hours of September 24, 2025, the Mediterranean Sea became the stage for a dramatic and escalating confrontation. The Global Sumud Flotilla—a convoy of about 50 civilian boats carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza—reported being attacked by drones and subjected to communications jamming in international waters south of Greece. The incident, which organizers described as a “dangerous escalation,” has drawn swift international attention and prompted the deployment of naval ships by both Italy and Spain for possible rescue operations and to ensure the safety of their citizens on board.
According to Associated Press and Reuters, the flotilla, which set sail from Spain on September 1, includes participants from dozens of countries. Its mission: to break Israel’s 18-year maritime blockade of Gaza and deliver symbolic amounts of food and medicine to Palestinians facing an acute humanitarian crisis. The journey has been fraught with tension from the outset, but the attack on Wednesday night marked a new and alarming chapter.
Activists reported that at least 13 explosions were heard on and around several boats. Drones or aircraft dropped unidentified objects—described by some as flashbang-type explosive devices—on at least 10 vessels. CCTV footage released by the flotilla showed explosions and a man leaping onto a yacht’s deck in the chaos. While no casualties were reported, the flotilla said several vessels sustained damage and that “widespread obstruction in communications” had occurred, leaving crews struggling to coordinate amid the crisis.
Simone Zambrin, an Italian activist on board, recounted, “Drones have been flying over our heads for days now and on Wednesday dropped devices at our boats, damaging both the sails and the hearing of some of our crew members.” She added, “Israel is trying to instill fear because it is afraid of our arrival.” American activist Greg Stoker described how the flotilla’s radio communications were jammed, with the jammers even playing an ABBA song over the channel the group was using, further hampering coordination and morale.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is participating in the mission, called the strikes a “scare tactic” but insisted the group would not be deterred. “We were aware of the risks of these kinds of attacks so that’s not something that is going to stop us. We’re very, very determined to continue our mission,” Thunberg said during a livestream from one of the boats. She emphasized, “The most important thing isn’t that we were hit by drones. Drones are something that Palestinians experience 24-7.”
Italy’s Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, condemned the attack by what he called “unidentified perpetrators.” He promptly ordered the navy frigate Fasan, stationed north of Crete, to head toward the flotilla to assist Italian citizens on board. “In a democracy, demonstrations and forms of protest must also be protected when they are carried out in accordance with international law and without resorting to violence,” Crosetto said. He later warned the activists to remain in international waters and proposed that the aid be handed over to the Catholic Church in Gaza for distribution, cautioning, “We cannot guarantee the safety of our fellow citizens if they enter the territorial waters of other countries.”
Spain, too, responded decisively. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, announced that Spain would dispatch a naval vessel from Cartagena with all necessary resources to assist the flotilla and carry out rescue operations if needed. “The government of Spain demands that international law be complied with and that the right of its citizens to navigate the Mediterranean under safe conditions be respected,” Sánchez declared. The Spanish government’s move underscores the multinational nature of the mission—citizens from 45 nations are reportedly participating—and the widespread concern for their safety.
The European Union weighed in, with spokesperson Eva Hrncirova stressing, “The freedom of navigation under international law must be upheld.” The UN Human Rights Office called for an investigation into the incident, highlighting the seriousness with which the international community is treating the attack.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Foreign Ministry faced a “mail bombing” campaign—thousands of fake emails flooded its servers after the attack, hindering the crisis unit’s work. The ministry, which is the main point of contact for Italian citizens aboard the flotilla, said the emails were sparked by an urgent appeal from the Global Sumud Flotilla to its supporters, urging them to demand a firm condemnation of the attack and diplomatic pressure on those responsible.
The Israeli government, for its part, has maintained a hardline stance. The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused the flotilla organizers of being linked to Hamas, an allegation the organizers strongly reject. Israel has stated that it will not allow the flotilla to reach Gaza, instead proposing that aid be unloaded at the Israeli port of Ashkelon and then transferred into Gaza in a coordinated manner. “If the flotilla participants’ genuine wish is to deliver humanitarian aid rather than serve Hamas, Israel calls on the vessels to dock at the Ashkelon Marina and unload the aid there, from where it will be transferred promptly in a co-ordinated manner to the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said.
Organizers of the flotilla, however, see their mission as an urgent effort to “break the illegal siege on Gaza by sea, open a humanitarian corridor, and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.” Their statement reflects the dire situation in Gaza, where, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023—about half of them women and children. The blockade and ongoing military operations have pushed Gaza City into famine, with hundreds dying from malnutrition and more than 300,000 people fleeing the city in recent weeks, while an estimated 700,000 remain trapped, according to UN agencies and aid groups.
This is not the first time activists have attempted to breach the Israeli blockade by sea. Previous flotillas have nearly all been intercepted by Israel, sometimes with deadly consequences. The most infamous incident occurred in 2010, when Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish vessel, killing 10 activists in clashes on board. The current mission, however, is the largest attempt to date, organizers say, and features a diverse group of participants, including human rights activists, lawyers, journalists, and lawmakers from several countries.
As the Global Sumud Flotilla presses on, its fate remains uncertain. Italian and Spanish naval ships are now shadowing the convoy, ready to assist if further violence erupts. The organizers have called on UN member states to place the attacks on the agenda for urgent talks, insisting that the world cannot look away from the escalating risks faced by both the activists and the besieged population of Gaza. Whether the flotilla will reach its destination—or be stopped short once again—remains to be seen, but the episode has already reignited global debate over the legality and morality of the blockade, the right to protest, and the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza.
For now, all eyes remain fixed on the Mediterranean, where a flotilla of hope, defiance, and international solidarity sails on under the shadow of drones and the watchful gaze of the world.
