Global Sumud Flotilla
 | |
| Abbreviation | GSF |
|---|---|
| Formation | July 2025 |
| Founders |
|
| Type |
|
| Purpose | Break the Gaza blockade, deliver humanitarian aid and establish a people-led humanitarian corridor |
Region served | Gaza Strip, Mediterranean region |
| Membership | Activists from 44 countries; over 15,000 registered participants (as of August 2025[update]) |
| Website | globalsumudflotilla |
Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF; Arabic: أسطول الصمود العالمي, romanized: Usṭūl aṣ-Ṣumūd al-ʿĀlamī) is an international, civil society-led maritime initiative launched in mid-2025, aiming to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. It is named from ṣumūd, Arabic for 'steadfastness' or 'resilience'.[1]
Background
![[icon]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (September 2025) |
Formation
GSF emerged in July 2025, amid the Gaza genocide, through the consolidation of multiple activist and humanitarian movements—including the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Global Movement to Gaza, Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, and Sumud Nusantara—into a coordinated maritime effort.[2][3][4]
The flotilla claims to be the largest civilian-led maritime convoy in history, comprising over 50 vessels of varying sizes departing from multiple ports around the Mediterranean, and converging toward Gaza. Organizers have gathered involvement or support from activists, doctors and artists representing 44 countries, who include Greta Thunberg, Thiago Ávila, Yasemin Acar (notably participants in the June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla), Robert Martin, Emma Fourreau (participants in the July flotilla), Susan Sarandon, Gustaf Skarsgård, Liam Cunningham, Mark Ruffalo, Zwelivelile Mandela, Abby Martin, Rahma Zein, Tadhg Hickey, Zerocalcare, Alessandro Barbero, Fiorella Mannoia, Alessandro Gassmann, Elisa, Isabella Ferrari, Nina Zilli, Cele Fierro and many others around the world.[a] The steering committee is composed of Thunberg, Ávila, Acar, Kleoniki Alexopoulou, Melanie Schweizer, Karen Moynihan, Maria Elena Delia, Saif Abukeshek, Muhammad Nadir al-Nuri, Marouan Ben Guettaia, Wael Nawar, Hayfa Mansouri and Torkia Chaibi.[10][11]
Preparations and voyage
The flotilla is setting sail between August and September 2025, with convoys departing from Genoa on August 30, from Barcelona on August 31, and from Tunis and Catania on September 4; their arrival is estimated for mid-September.[9][12][13] Preparatory actions include registration of over 15,000 participants, along with planned training sessions, solidarity events, and camps near departure points.[12][14][15] The Italian cargo consists of 45 tons of aid.[13]
The Genoa vessels, four in total, were saluted during their departure by a crowd of 40,000 citizens. These included mayor Silvia Salis, who drew ties between Gaza and Genoa as a city decorated for its resistance during World War II. The organizers stated that they intend to pressure the Italian foreign ministry for immediate action in the event of an incident; this would include coordinated action from dockworkers across Europe to block all civilian shipments to Israel.[13]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ Thunberg, Greta [@gretathunberg]; (10 August 2025). "The Global Sumud Flotilla". Retrieved 10 August 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ a b "Largest civilian flotilla to challenge 'Israeli' Gaza blockade in late August". Roya News. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Massive civilian flotilla set to sail for Gaza to break Israeli siege". Radio Havana Cuba. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025 – via Radio Rebelde.
- ^ a b "Massive civilian flotilla set to sail for Gaza late August to break Israeli siege". Middle East Monitor. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "Activists from 44 Countries Plan Largest-Ever Gaza Aid Flotilla in September". Democracy Now!. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "Greta Thunberg, activists plan new aid flotilla to Gaza". Khaleej Times. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Greta Thunberg and global activists to sail largest flotilla for Gaza to break Israeli blockade". The Online Citizen. 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA. A fine agosto e inizio settembre decine di imbarcazioni salperanno per Gaza". Pagine Esteri (in Italian). 11 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ a b Principe, Diana (26 August 2025). "Cos'è Global Sumud Flotilla, la flotta internazionale che vuole portare aiuti umanitari a Gaza" (in Italian). Wired. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ a b "The Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza: Everything you need to know". Al Jazeera English. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Greta Thunberg joins Global Sumud Flotilla steering committee and mission to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza" (PDF). Global Sumud Flotilla. 10 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b "On Avenue Habib Bourguiba: Awareness tent for Maghreb Sumud Flotilla to break Gaza siege". Tunis Afrique Presse. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Pietro, Barabino (31 August 2025). "Oltre 40mila persone accompagnano la partenza della Global Sumud Flotilla da Genova. C'è anche la sindaca Salis: 'Aiutiamo Gaza a resistere'". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ Dadjoo, Sahar (29 July 2025). "Exclusive: Activist says Sumud Flotilla unites 40 nations in renewed push against Gaza blockade". Tehran Times. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ Ávila, Thiago [@thiagoavilabrasil]; (12 August 2025). "Over 15.000 people have applied to join the @globalsumudflotilla to break the siege by sea and to break complicity mobilizing on land in over 44 countries!". Retrieved 12 August 2025 – via Instagram.
External links
