The Global Sumud Flotilla Has Arrived In Tunisia Where More Ships Will Join To Sail To Gaza To Break Israel’s Siege
The first wave of boats arrived in Tunisia on Sept. 7 to meet with other groups of activists that gathered to sail together to Gaza.
Hundreds of people in Tunisia have welcomed the Global Sumud Flotilla in Tunisia as it docked at the Sidi Bou Said port, its last stop before reaching Gaza.
Led by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, together with movements from Europe, North Africa and Southeast Asia, it is the largest civilian flotilla ever assembled against Israel’s blockade, with organizers saying it is both a supply mission and a political challenge to genocide.
Activists, doctors, artists, lawyers and sailors set sail from ports across the Mediterranean in more than 50 boats in mostly small boats to open a humanitarian corridor, deliver urgent aid, including food, medical supplies and water purifiers, and denounce Israel’s ongoing siege and genocide in Gaza.
The name “Sumud,” meaning resilience or steadfastness in Arabic, was chosen to symbolize Palestinians’ resilience under siege.
On Sunday, Aug. 31, the first wave of boats sailed from Barcelona, Spain, with hundreds of activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, historian Kleoniki Alexopoulou, human rights activist Yasemin Acar, Palestinian activist Saif Abukeshek and more.
They arrived in Tunisia on Sunday, Sept. 7 to meet with other groups of activists that gathered in Tunisia to sail together to Gaza.
Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to treat anyone aboard the ships as “terrorists” who could be jailed in high-security prisons instead of deported.
Israel has repeatedly sabotaged all previous attempts to break its siege on Gaza since 2010, including its deadly assault on Mavi Marmara in 2010, and in 2025, seizing the Madleen in June and the Handala in July, when activists on those vessels were detained and aid was confiscated.
The ships will remain docked in Tunisia for several days to restock and register additional vessels.
Activists said they plan to depart for Gaza on Wednesday, Sept. 10, and are expected to arrive in one week in Gaza if not stopped.
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Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
