A convoy of around 20 boats, laden with humanitarian aid and pro-Palestinian activists—including the prominent Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg—set sail from Tunisia’s northern port of Bizerte on Monday, September 15, 2025. The flotilla, known as the Global Sumud Flotilla, is making a bold attempt to break Israel’s long-standing blockade of Gaza and establish a humanitarian corridor to the besieged Palestinian enclave. Their mission, as articulated by participants and organizers, is twofold: deliver much-needed supplies and send a powerful message of global solidarity to Gaza’s residents.
According to AFP, the departure was the culmination of weeks of tense preparation, repeated delays, and even targeted attacks. The convoy’s journey began in Barcelona, with boats gradually making their way across the Mediterranean before converging in Bizerte. The last of the vessels slipped out of the harbor at dawn, their decks crowded with activists, banners, and boxes of aid. “We are also trying to send a message to the people of Gaza that the world has not forgotten about you,” Thunberg told AFP before boarding. “When our governments are failing to step up then we have no choice but to take matters into our own hands.”
The flotilla’s path to Bizerte was anything but smooth. After a turbulent stay in Sidi Bou Said, near Tunis, the vessels were transferred north due to security concerns. Yasemin Acar, a coordinator for the flotilla from the Maghreb region, shared images on Instagram of the boats departing in the early hours, accompanied by captions such as “The blockade of Gaza must end” and “We are leaving for solidarity, dignity and justice.”
Yet, the sense of urgency and hope was shadowed by real danger. The Global Sumud Flotilla reported that two of its boats were targeted by drone attacks on consecutive nights during the week leading up to their departure. Tunisian authorities quickly condemned these incidents as “premeditated aggression” and announced an official investigation. The attacks, which occurred while the boats were docked, heightened security concerns and forced organizers to reconsider their plans.
European Parliament member Rima Hassan, who, like Thunberg, was previously detained aboard the Madleen sailboat during a June 2025 attempt to reach Gaza, voiced her worries about the risks involved. “We are preparing for different scenarios,” Hassan told AFP, noting that organizers had deliberately split the most prominent figures between the two largest coordinating boats “to balance things out and avoid concentrating all the visible personalities on a single vessel.” This strategic move was a direct response to the threats that have dogged previous humanitarian missions to Gaza, as well as the recent drone attacks.
The journey itself was delayed multiple times—not only because of security threats but also due to logistical challenges and unpredictable weather. Boats required last-minute repairs, and the need to coordinate departures from several Mediterranean locations—including Corsica, Sicily, and Greece—added further complexity. The original plan had been to reach Gaza by mid-September, but as with two previous attempts in June and July 2025, the mission faced formidable obstacles. In both earlier cases, Israeli authorities blocked the flotilla from reaching Gaza’s shores, citing security concerns and the blockade policy that has been in place for years.
Despite these setbacks, the organizers remained resolute. The flotilla’s makeup is notably international, with vessels and activists joining from across Europe and North Africa. Their stated goal is to establish a humanitarian corridor, a lifeline for Gaza’s population, which has endured years of blockade and conflict. The symbolism of the mission is as important as the aid itself. As Thunberg emphasized, the journey is meant to show the people of Gaza that, despite political paralysis and diplomatic gridlock, there are those in the international community willing to take risks for their cause.
The flotilla’s efforts have drawn attention from both supporters and critics. Proponents argue that such missions are essential to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to put pressure on governments and international organizations to address the situation. Critics, however, question the effectiveness of the approach and warn that it could escalate tensions in an already volatile region. The Israeli government, for its part, has consistently maintained that the blockade is necessary for security reasons, pointing to the risk of weapons smuggling and attacks from militant groups in Gaza.
The involvement of high-profile figures like Greta Thunberg has amplified the mission’s visibility. Thunberg, known for her climate activism, has increasingly lent her voice to causes intersecting with human rights and international justice. Her participation in the flotilla underscores the growing connections between environmental, humanitarian, and political activism on the global stage. “When our governments are failing to step up then we have no choice but to take matters into our own hands,” she reiterated, capturing the frustration and determination of many aboard the convoy.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Tunisia, public reaction to the mission has been largely supportive. Tunisian authorities, after condemning the drone attacks as “premeditated aggression,” pledged to investigate and ensure the safety of those involved. The incident has sparked debate about regional security and the extent to which outside actors might attempt to disrupt humanitarian initiatives bound for Gaza.
Looking back, the history of aid flotillas attempting to breach the Gaza blockade is fraught with controversy and danger. The most infamous incident occurred in 2010, when Israeli commandos boarded the Mavi Marmara, resulting in the deaths of several activists and a diplomatic crisis. Since then, most attempts have been intercepted before reaching Gaza, with participants detained or turned back. Yet, the persistence of such missions speaks to the enduring sense of urgency and solidarity felt by activists worldwide.
As the Global Sumud Flotilla makes its way across the Mediterranean, the eyes of the world are once again focused on Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Whether the convoy will succeed in reaching its destination remains uncertain, given the history of Israeli interdiction and the threats already encountered. What is clear, however, is that the activists aboard are determined to keep Gaza’s plight in the international spotlight, regardless of the risks involved.
The coming days will reveal whether this latest attempt to break the blockade will mark a turning point or become another chapter in the long saga of Gaza’s isolation. For now, the boats press on, driven by hope, solidarity, and the conviction that, as one activist put it, “the world has not forgotten.”