Four major movements from around the world have come together to form a massive coalition in an effort to “break the illegal siege on Gaza by sea, open a humanitarian corridor, and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.” The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, Global Movement to Gaza, and the Sumud Nusantara have unified as the Global Sumud Flotilla. The movement encompasses everyday people from across the four movements, whether it be doctors, humanitarians, artists, organizers. Irish actor, Liam Cunningham and former Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, are a part of the many who have joined the mission. In addition to this, various MEPs are aboard boats in the flotilla, including, Benedetta Scuderi of the Greens, Emma Forreau and Lynn Boylan of the Left. Multiple parties across the left from Spain, Portugal, and Greece are also represented on the various vessels.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was formed after two previous flotilla endeavours to break the Israeli blockade from earlier this year had no success. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s ‘Conscience’ was hit twice by drone attacks on May 2nd off of the coast of Malta. Following this, the ‘Madleen’, which was dismissed as the “selfie yacht” by the Israel Foreign Ministry, was seized by the IDF on June 9th. All crew members were deported from the country, including French MEP, Rima Hassan, Al Jazeera journalist, Omar Faiad, and Greta Thunberg, who is also aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. No previous efforts have been successful since 2010, with Israeli forces thwarting each attempt to break the blockade, claiming they are preventing the import of arms.
In contrast to the Madleen, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not reducing the Global Sumud Flotilla to a “selfie yacht” or a publicity stunt by celebrities, rather
labelling it as a terrorist entity linking it to Hamas. Potentially implying Israel’s plans for the international mission.
There have already been two incidents of drone strikes along the gulf of Tunisia. The ‘Familia Madeira’ and the ‘Alma’ being attacked on the 8th and 9th of September, respectively.
The UN Commission finding Israel responsible for committing genocide in Gaza on the 16 of September. Stating that
“there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza.”
Within this context, and taking into account that Israel’s actions in the past two years have gone by with little to no consequences, under the justification of having the right to defend itself, the Global Sumud Flotilla has made it clear that they are fully aware of the risks. The MEPs, alongside hundreds of activists are currently sailing on a mission which has put their lives under threat.
