The latest bid to break Gaza’s naval blockade launched from Barcelona on Sunday under the name Global Sumud Flotilla. Around 20 boats began the voyage, but by Monday, strong winds reaching about 30 knots forced the convoy back to port. It’s a rough beginning that weather-watchers say could have been foreseen at this time of year. Some of the smaller vessels are not built for such conditions, raising the possibility that not all will make it into the eastern Mediterranean.
Organizers still expect reinforcements en route. The initial 20 vessels are set to be joined by others from ports along the Mediterranean, and CNN has reported that as many as 70 different types of watercraft could ultimately take part. That outlet’s suggested arrival dates of September 14 or 15 have been called unrealistic by some observers, but the scheduling appears designed to coincide with the high-profile UN General Assembly in New York later in September—timing that could amplify the mission’s political impact. The United States has currently blocked Palestinians from acquiring visas to attend the event.
The stated aim, if the flotilla sets out again, is to create a humanitarian sea corridor to deliver food, water, and medical aid to Gaza, where the war has deepened shortages and triggered UN warnings of famine. Given the logistical challenges that Israel and US-oriented aid organizations face with Hamas looting the proscribed aid from civilians in Gaza, it is not clear how even 20 boats of supplies will be able to make a more impactful dent in the situation.
“Sumud”, Arabic for steadfastness, is both a name and a mission statement. This initiative brings together the Global Movement to Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, and Sumud Nusantara from Southeast Asia. The alliance says it plans multiple convoys of small, civilian vessels traveling in waves, aiming to reach Gaza by sea where land routes are restricted or closed.
Unlike earlier single-vessel sailings in 2025, this is a coordinated fleet. The core convoy departed Spain at the end of August, with other launches expected from Tunisia and additional ports around September 4. Organizers say representation spans six continents.
Who is on board?
Publicly named participants include Greta Thunberg, former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, Portuguese MP Mariana Mortágua, and actor Liam Cunningham, alongside doctors, sailors, clergy, lawyers, and aid workers. Delegations represent dozens of countries, with hundreds of individuals in total.
The steering committee features Thunberg, historian Kleoniki Alexopoulou, rights advocates Yasemin Acar and Melanie Schweizer, and Palestinian activist Saif Abukeshek, among others. For security, many details about exact routes and schedules are withheld.
The operation is powered by grassroots fundraising. Crowdfunding campaigns run through platforms such as Chuffed (Global Sumud Flotilla), WhyDonate (e.g., the Dutch delegation), and donation portals hosted by Nonviolence International for US Boats to Gaza. These appeals cover costs for vessel hire, supplies, fuel, communications, safety gear, legal teams, and crew travel.
Budgets and donor lists are not fully public, but individual campaigns in the Netherlands, UK, and Ireland have posted funding updates online. No credible evidence has surfaced of direct government sponsorship.
Why now?
Israel’s naval blockade has been in place since 2007, following the takeover of Gaza by Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, the European Union, and others. Israel maintains that under international law it has the right to prevent weapons and military equipment from reaching Hamas, and that the blockade is a security measure to protect its citizens from rocket fire and other attacks. Supporters of the flotilla reject this justification and argue that the policy amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s civilians.
The current war—sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages—has brought severe aid restrictions. International agencies warn of worsening hunger. Organizers of the flotilla say a maritime route is urgently needed; Israel has consistently intercepted past blockade challenges. America attempted to build a dock for a marine route to aid, but fierce winds ripped the multi-million dollar pier apart not long after construction.
This is the largest effort since the deadly 2010 Mavi Marmara incident. Weather, port permissions, and the threat of interception remain immediate concerns.
Green Prophet has tracked this story from the beginning:
- What we know about the Barcarole/Freedom Flotilla boat heading to Gaza with Greta Thunberg
- Climate activist Greta Thunberg joins Gaza flotilla
- Greta Thunberg sails toward Gaza as Israeli Navy prepares interception
- Greta’s Gaza Freedom Flotilla intercepted by Israel’s IDF, taking crew hostage
- Handala boat to Gaza intercepted by Israel
- Aid boat to Gaza attacked off Malta
Greta Thunberg’s role: climate abandoned—or broadened?
Thunberg is a named member of the Sumud steering committee. Her participation has raised questions in the climate community about whether she’s shifting focus from environmental activism to high-profile geopolitical causes. Her track record in 2025 suggests otherwise. She has stayed active on climate issues—continuing her Fridays for Future work, joining mass protests at Norway’s largest oil refinery in August, and pursuing legal action in Sweden (despite the Supreme Court dismissing her climate lawsuit in February).
For Thunberg, Gaza is part of a wider environmental justice framework—where war amplifies existing climate vulnerabilities through damage to water, energy, and sanitation systems. This aligns with the climate-justice perspective that conflict zones often experience the sharpest environmental and public health crises.
The flotilla is progressing in phases, dictated by weather and safety checks. Israel has said it will continue to enforce the blockade under its right to self-defense against Hamas. Organizers intend to sail on unless storms or interceptions force changes. The next milestone is a mid-Mediterranean rendezvous with vessels from North Africa, before attempting the final run toward Gaza.
For over 15 years, Green Prophet has reported at the intersection of environment, water, and conflict in the Middle East. This flotilla embodies all three—an environmental justice cause traveling by sea into contested waters, under the shadow of armed conflict and security enforcement. We will continue to follow developments closely, grounded in verified facts and context.
