Worldwide activists are getting ready on Sunday to set sail from northeastern Spain to the Gaza Strip in a large 70-boat flotilla, aiming to interrupt Israel’s devastating naval blockade and ship much-needed humanitarian help.
Dubbed the “International Resilience Flotilla,” the initiative is the second of its variety in lower than a yr. It boasts a big enhance in participation, with about 1,000 volunteers from 70 international locations collaborating within the effort.
The vessels, departing from the port of Barcelona, are loaded with meals, drugs, faculty luggage, and stationery for Palestinian youngsters. Organisers say the mission is being carried out in coordination with Palestinian civil society organisations, maritime safety consultants, and outstanding worldwide NGOs, together with Greenpeace and Open Arms—a charity identified for its Mediterranean rescue operations. The flotilla has additionally acquired elevated backing from the Barcelona municipality.
Pablo Castilla, a spokesperson for the flotilla, informed reporters in Barcelona that the first objective is to “condemn worldwide complicity within the genocide dedicated by Israel in Gaza, demand accountability, and open a humanitarian hall by sea and land”.
Castilla famous a declining worldwide concentrate on Gaza because of the ongoing United States-Israel battle on Iran and Israeli assaults on Lebanon. He warned that Israel is exploiting this geopolitical shift to tighten its siege, limit help, increase settlements, and speed up the occupation of Palestinian territory.
The Gaza Strip, beneath an Israeli blockade since 2007, has confronted an unprecedented humanitarian and well being disaster since Israel’s genocidal battle towards Palestinians in Gaza, which started in October 2023 and has killed greater than 72,000 Palestinians.
The extended assault has additionally devastated infrastructure, together with hospitals, and left roughly 1.5 million of the enclave’s 2.4 million residents displaced and homeless, amid extreme restrictions on gas and medical provides.
The flotilla’s departure comes simply months after the Israeli army intercepted the primary International Resilience Flotilla in early October 2025. That mission, which departed Barcelona in September 2025 with 42 boats and 462 activists, was attacked in worldwide waters, with a whole lot arrested and later deported.
Flotillas attempting to interrupt Israel’s siege of Gaza
Since 2010, all flotillas making an attempt to interrupt the Gaza blockade have been intercepted or attacked by Israel in worldwide waters.
In 2008, two boats from the Free Gaza Motion efficiently reached Gaza, marking the primary breach of Israel’s naval blockade. The motion, based in 2006 by activists throughout Israel’s battle on Lebanon, went on to launch 31 boats between 2008 and 2016, 5 of which reached Gaza regardless of heavy Israeli restrictions.
2010 – Gaza Freedom Flotilla
In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the help ship the Mavi Marmara in worldwide waters. The assault killed 10 activists and injured dozens, resulting in international outrage. The ship was carrying humanitarian help and greater than 600 passengers.
The Mavi Marmara was owned and run by the Humanitarian Reduction Basis, or IHH, a Turkish NGO. The incident severely strained Israel-Turkiye relations, and drew widespread condemnation for violating worldwide regulation.
In 2013, Israel apologised for “operational errors” within the raid. A compensation deal continues to be being negotiated between the 2 international locations. Israeli troopers and officers who took half within the assault are being tried in absentia in Turkiye for battle crimes.
2011 – Freedom Flotilla II
Freedom Flotilla II was launched in 2011 as a follow-up to the 2010 mission. Organised by a coalition of worldwide activists and NGOs, it aimed to interrupt Israel’s blockade on Gaza and ship humanitarian help. The flotilla concerned greater than 300 individuals from world wide and was set to sail on 10 vessels.
Nevertheless, intense diplomatic strain from Israel, coupled with reported sabotage of ships and restrictions by host international locations, prevented most boats from departing.
Solely the Dignite-Al Karama got here near reaching Gaza. The 17-passenger French vessel initially declared an Egyptian port as its vacation spot upon leaving Greek waters, however activists later introduced they have been heading for Gaza. Israeli naval commandos intercepted the boat and towed it to Ashdod in Israel. The activists have been detained for questioning and later deported.
2015 – Freedom Flotilla III
Freedom Flotilla III was launched in 2015 because the third main try by worldwide activists to interrupt Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition or FFC, the mission included a number of vessels, with the Swedish-flagged Marianne of Gothenburg main the hassle.
On June 29, 2015, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Marianne about 100 nautical miles (185km) off the Gaza coast, in worldwide waters. Commandos boarded the ship and diverted it to Ashdod. The activists on board have been detained and later deported, with some crew members launched after six days.
2018 – Simply Future for Palestine
The Simply Future for Palestine Flotilla – also called the 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla – was a part of a continued effort by the FFC to problem Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The marketing campaign included two principal vessels, Al Awda (The Return) and Freedom, together with two help yachts, Mairead and Falestine.
On July 29 and August 3, 2018, each Al Awda and Freedom have been intercepted and seized by the Israeli navy in worldwide waters. All on board have been arrested, with some reporting being assaulted by Israeli forces.
Most individuals have been held in detention earlier than being deported to their respective international locations.
2025 – Break the Siege ‘Conscience’
Whereas getting ready to sail to Gaza on Could 2, 2025, the Conscience was struck twice by armed drones, simply 14 nautical miles (26km) off the coast of Malta. The assault triggered a hearth and brought on a big breach within the hull, forcing the 30 Turkish and Azeri activists on board right into a determined effort to bail out water and hold the ship afloat.
4 folks sustained minor accidents within the assault, together with burns and lacerations.
Nineteen years of Israeli blockade
The Gaza Strip has a inhabitants of about 2.3 million dwelling in one of the vital densely populated areas on the earth.
Since 2007, Israel has maintained strict management over Gaza’s airspace and territorial waters and restricted the motion of products and other people out and in of Gaza.
Even earlier than the battle, Gaza had no practical airports after Israel bombed and demolished the Yasser Arafat Worldwide Airport in 2001, solely three years after it opened.
Gaza is once more the scene of widespread destruction and human struggling, and stays the place typically described as “the world’s largest open-air jail”.
