“Sumud“It is Arabic term which means”perseverance“,”resistence“,”firmness“. It is Arabic term that for the Palestinians gives the exact meaning of the right to live in their land. It is a term incorporated among two others:”Global“, To indicate that everyone concerns us, and”Flotilla“, Who could know of war, but war is not, if not that to indifference.
And yesterday, Sunday 31 August, the first two ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla, the international humanitarian expedition with the aim of breaking the blocking of humanitarian aid in Gaza imposed by Israel were sailed from the ports of Barcelona and Genoa. Hundreds of people including volunteers, activists and politicians from 44 countries for the largest humanitarian mission towards the Gaza Strip by civil society (according to the last post, Flotilla had to slow down due to the strong winds).
An army that, hear heard, is scary in Israel, who in these hours has launched a warning: “Anyone who chooses to collaborate with Hamas and support terrorism will meet a firm and inflexible response from Israel“.
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But what is to know about the flotilla and how can we support it?
Who are the participating groups?
This mission is organized by four main coalitions, including groups that have participated in previous terrestrial and maritime efforts in Gaza:
Who are the people involved?
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla website, the coalition includes a series of people, including organizers, humanitarian operators, doctors, artists, clergy, lawyers and maritime, united by faith in human dignity, in the power of nonviolent action and a single truth: the siege and the genocide must end.
A management committee was also set up, which includes the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, the historian Kleoniki Alexopoulou, the Yasminist Human Rights activist, the socio -environmentalist Thiago Avila, the Polytologist and lawyer Melanie Schweizer, the social scientist Karen Moynihan, the physics Maria Elena Delia, the activist. Palestinian Saif Abukeshek, Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri, the activist Marouan Ben Guettaia, the activist Wael Nawar, the activist and social researcher Hayfa Mansouri and the Torkia Chaibi human rights activist.
The group estimates that the fleet will take between seven and eight days to make the trip of about 3,000 km (1,620 nautical miles) to Gaza.
What is a flotilla and why send aid by sea?
A flotilla is a group of boats or ships organized to deliver essential supplies, such as food, medicines and other materials, to the regions in crisis. They are usually organized when traditional refueling routes, such as air and terrestrial corridors, are blocked or inaccessible.
Since 2007, Israel has strictly controlled the Air Space and Territorial Waters of Gaza, limiting the circulation of goods and people. Even before the war, Gaza had no working airports after Israel had bombed and destroyed the Yasser Arafat international airport in 2001, just three years after its opening.
Humanitarian and basic floats usually operate under the protection of international organizations and are governed by naval laws.
Delivering aid by sea, Sumud’s flottiglia aims to face the Israeli block on frontly and bring the message that the siege must end.
What happened to previous flottaglie?
Several Freedom Flotilla ships attempted to break Gaza’s block.
In 2008, two boats from the Free Gaza Movement successfully reached Gaza, marking the first breach in the Israeli naval block. The movement, founded in 2006 by activists during the Israel war against Lebanon, continued to launch 31 boats between 2008 and 2016, five of which reached Gaza despite the heavy Israeli restrictions.
Since 2010, all the floats that try to break Gaza’s block have been intercepted or attacked by Israel in international waters.
2010 – Flottiglia for Gaza’s freedom
In 2010, an Israeli commando broke into Mavi Marmara in international waters. The assault killed 10 activists and wounded dozens of them. The ship transported humanitarian aid and more than 600 passengers.
2011 – Freedom Flotilla II
Freedom Flotilla II is sailed in 2011 as a sequel to the 2010 mission. Organized by a coalition of international activists and NGOs, aimed to break the Israeli block on Gaza and provide humanitarian aid.
2015 – Flottiglia della LibertΓ III
Freedom Flotilla III was launched in 2015 as a third great attempt by international activists to break through the Israeli naval block of Gaza. Organized by the FFC, the mission included several ships, with the Marianne of Gothenburg, the Swedish flag, driving.
2018 – The Just Future for Palestine Flotilla
The Just Future for Palestine Flotilla – also known as Gaza Freedom Flotilla of 2018 – was part of a continuous effort from the FFC to challenge the Israeli naval block of Gaza.
2025 – The conscience
While preparing to sail for Gaza on May 2, the conscience was hit twice by armed drones, just 14 nautical miles (25 km) off the coast of Malta. The attack triggered a fire, forcing the 30 Turkish and azerous activists on board to a desperate attempt to get the water out and keep the ship afloat.
2025 – Madleen – La Madleen, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) on June 9, was intercepted by the Israeli army about 185 km (100 nautical miles) by Gaza, in international waters.
We talked about it here: attacked and blocked by Israel the boat that brought humanitarian aid to Gaza (Greta Thunberg and the seized activists)
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What can you do?
We count on people of different nations, faiths and backgrounds, united by our loyalty to justice, nonviolence, human rights, freedom and sacredness of life, explain the organizers on the official website.
We need your support to make all this possible (since this action is very expensive in terms of logistics and structure), to spread the message and, above all, to join us and organize with us this global revolt to stop the famine, the genocide and all the violations against the Palestinian people.
The initiative is in fact collecting donations both for the logistical aspects and to procure the basic necessities to be carried on board. In Genoa an initiative organized with Music for Peace and the autonomous collective port workers (Calp), collected 40 tons of food.
A way to support the mission is therefore to donate to support boats and aids, join the earth teams to organize actions and amplify the mission, or coordinate a solidarity action in your city or in your port.
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