Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail again from Barcelona to Gaza with double participation

The Global Sumud Flotilla, formed to break Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip, deliver humanitarian aid and raise global awareness about the enclave, is setting sail from Barcelona again after a year, this time with nearly double the participation. Created in 2025 by NGO representatives, activists and volunteers from various countries, the flotilla is launching its second mission to Gaza. It is notable that the largest participation in the fleet, which departs from different points across the Mediterranean, again comes from Spain. The Barcelona-based flotilla, which last sailed in September with 42 boats and 462 people, will depart April 12 with almost double the scale -- 70 boats and nearly 1,000 volunteers from 70 countries. One of the flotilla’s spokespersons, Pablo Castilla, stated that the main goal of the initiative is “to condemn international complicity in what is happening in Gaza, demand accountability, and open a humanitarian corridor by sea and land.” Castilla expressed concern that international attention on Gaza has declined due to US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Israel’s actions in Lebanon. “Israel has intensified the blockade on Gaza, restricted aid entry, expanded settlements, and accelerated land confiscation,” he said. Other organizers emphasized that they are acting within the law and that the mission is being coordinated with Palestinian civil society organizations, legal experts, politicians and specialists in maritime security and media strategy. This year, the participation of well-known NGOs such as Greenpeace and Open Arms, along with increased support from the Barcelona municipality, stands out. During the flotilla’s previous attempt in September, Israeli forces stopped the vessels in what organizers described as an unlawful intervention, boarded them, detained volunteers and took them to Israel. Israeli naval forces initially boarded several boats about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, cutting communications and blocking signals. They also used drones to interfere, disrupting emergency signals and live broadcasts of the boarding.