Massive Gaza Aid Flotilla Sets Sail From Barcelona To Challenge Israeli Naval Blockade

A large group of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid is preparing to sail from Barcelona in Spain in another attempt to reach the Gaza Strip and challenge Israel’s naval blockade.

Organisers said between around 30 and nearly 70 boats are expected to take part in the initiative, known as the Global Sumud Flotilla or Global Resilience Flotilla.

The vessels are loaded with medical supplies, food, school bags and other essential items, and more boats are expected to join along the route across the Mediterranean.

The flotilla is expected to leave in stages due to rough sea conditions. Some vessels may first move to another port before heading into international waters later in the week.

The campaign is being coordinated with Palestinian civil society groups, maritime security experts and international organisations, including Greenpeace and Open Arms.

Organisers said the aim is to deliver aid directly and try to open a humanitarian corridor so aid agencies can reach Gaza.

Saif Abukeshek, a member of the organising committee, said the mission is intended to allow aid delivery organisations to access the territory.

Actor Liam Cunningham, who supports the flotilla but is not taking part, said the need for such efforts shows that governments are not meeting their responsibilities.

The flotilla follows a similar attempt in October 2025, when more than 40 vessels organised by the same group were stopped by Israeli forces before reaching Gaza.

Over 450 participants were detained, including activist Greta Thunberg, and were later deported. Some activists from Switzerland and Spain said they were held in poor conditions, which Israeli officials denied.

Attempts to reach Gaza by sea have mostly been blocked since 2010. During the Gaza flotilla raid, Israeli commandos boarded the vessel Mavi Marmara in international waters, killing 10 activists and injuring several others.

The incident led to strong international reaction and strained relations between Israel and Türkiye. Israel later apologised for operational mistakes, and discussions on compensation have continued.

Earlier efforts by the Free Gaza Movement saw limited success. Two boats reached Gaza in 2008, and a total of 31 vessels were launched between 2008 and 2016, with only a few managing to get through.

Other missions, including Freedom Flotilla II in 2011 and Freedom Flotilla III in 2015, were stopped before or during their journeys.

In 2018, vessels under the Just Future for Palestine campaign were also intercepted, with participants detained and later deported.

In May 2025, another vessel named Conscience was hit by drones near Malta while preparing to sail, causing damage and minor injuries to those onboard.

Israel has maintained that the naval blockade, in place since 2007 after Hamas took control of Gaza, is needed to prevent weapons from being smuggled into the territory. Israel and Egypt both control access to Gaza.

Israeli officials have said that enough humanitarian aid is being allowed into Gaza through controlled routes.

However, Palestinians and international aid organisations have said supplies remain insufficient for the population of more than two million people.

The World Health Organization has stated that even during conflicts, access to medical care must be ensured under international humanitarian law.

Organisers of the current flotilla described the mission as one of the largest civilian-led efforts in recent months. They said it is meant both to deliver aid and draw attention to restrictions on supplies entering Gaza, at a time when the territory continues to face shortages of fuel, medicine and basic goods.

References: Reuters, Telegraph India