Greta Thunberg Joins Aid Flotilla Set to Sail for Gaza

A flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is scheduled to depart from Barcelona on Sunday. Organisers aim to “break the illegal siege of Gaza” and open a humanitarian corridor to address what they describe as the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. The mission is spearheaded by the Global Sumud Flotilla, although details about the number of vessels and the precise time of departure have not been disclosed.

The flotilla is expected to arrive in the war-torn coastal enclave by mid-September. Activist Thiago Avila stated, “This will be the largest solidarity mission in history, with more people and more boats than all previous attempts combined.” Activists anticipate that additional vessels will depart from Tunisian and other Mediterranean ports on September 4. Simultaneously, demonstrations and protests will occur in 44 countries, emphasizing solidarity with the Palestinian people, as Thunberg mentioned in a post on Instagram.

In addition to Thunberg, the flotilla will include activists from various nations, European lawmakers, and notable figures such as former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau. Mariana Mortagua, a left-wing Portuguese lawmaker participating in the mission, underscored the mission’s legality, stating, “We understand that this is a legal mission under international law.”

Background of Previous Attempts

The Global Sumud Flotilla identifies itself as an independent organization, unaffiliated with any government or political party. The term “Sumud” translates to “perseverance” in Arabic. Previous efforts to deliver aid to Gaza by sea have been thwarted by Israeli forces. In June, twelve activists aboard the sailboat Madleen were intercepted approximately 185 kilometers (115 miles) west of Gaza. This group included Thunberg, who was subsequently detained and expelled. A second attempt in July involved twenty-one activists from ten countries, who were also intercepted while approaching Gaza in another vessel, the Handala.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. In a dire warning, the United Nations announced a state of famine in the territory this month, indicating that around 500,000 people are facing catastrophic conditions. The conflict in Gaza escalated dramatically following an unprecedented cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas into Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data. In response, Israel’s military operations have reportedly claimed the lives of at least 63,371 Palestinians, with most casualties being civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The United Nations has validated these figures as reliable.

The upcoming flotilla reflects a growing international movement advocating for humanitarian aid in Gaza, as activists rally to bring attention to the ongoing crisis and support the Palestinian people.