The flotilla began to set sail late August 2025 with delegations and convoys departing Otranto, Genoa, and Barcelona, followed by Catania, Syros, and Tunis early September. Some convoys initially faced temporary stoppages and delayed departures due to high winds and a significant storm. On 3 September, the Italian convoy reached Sicily and Tunisian vessels began converging on Tunis. Four days later, part of the Spanish convoy arrived in northern Tunisia, where in the early hours of 9 September, a fire broke out on one of the main vessels, suspected to be a drone attack. A second incendiary attack was reported the following night an another vessel. By 17 September, the Spanish and Tunisian convoys were approaching Sicily to join up with the Italian fleet. On 19 September, the convoy departed heading east.
The steering committee is composed of Ávila, Acar, Kleoniki Alexopoulou, Melanie Schweizer, Karen Moynihan, Maria Elena Delia, Saif Abukeshek, Muhammad Nadir al-Nuri[ms], Marouan Ben Guettaia, Wael Nawar, Hayfa Mansouri and Torkia Chaibi.[19][31] Thunberg, originally part of the committee, reportedly stepped down in mid-September due to disagreements regarding communication.[40] The movement's spokespersons are Ávila, Abukeshek and Jeweher Chenna.[41]
Preparations and departures
Greta Thunberg addressing supporters ahead of the departure of the Barcelona convoy
The flotilla set sail between August and September 2025, with convoys departing from Genoa on 30 August, from Barcelona on 31 August, and from Tunis and Catania on 7 September (originally planned for 4 September); their arrival was estimated for mid-September.[30][42][43][44][45] Preparatory actions included registration of over 15,000 participants, along with training sessions, solidarity events, and camps near departure points.[46][47][48] The Italian cargo consists of 45 tons of aid.[43]
Malaysian vessels, under the name "Sumud Nusantara Asian Flotilla", also departed with food and aid on 23 August 2025.[49] Alongside the Nusantara and "Watermelon Flotilla", officially sponsored by the government of Malaysia,[50] an Indian delegation was supposed to join from Kolkata, but withdrew due to safety concerns.[14]
The Genoa vessels, four in total, were saluted during their departure by a crowd of 40,000 citizens.[51] A union official said action would be taken in the event of an incident; this would include coordinated action from dockworkers across Europe to block all civilian shipments to Israel.[43][52]
On 11 September, a group of Egyptian activists expressed their will to join the flotilla, and thus sent an official request to the Egyptian government to allow their participation, which otherwise would be cancelled. They described their first boat as "fully-equipped" and said its crew was prepared.[13]
Early convoy voyages
Map of the voyage and stops of the various convoys. A: Spanish convoy; B: Italian convoys; C: Tunisian convoy; D: Greek convoy; E: Libyan convoy; END: destination, Gaza Strip.
Spanish
The Spanish convoy, notably carrying Thunberg, had to temporarily return to its port after its initial departure due to bad weather conditions, including winds around 56km/h (35mph).[53][54][55] The vessels were able to set sail again in the evening of 1 September.[33][56] Within its first night, the convoy, for the most part, had made it past 926km (575mi) from Barcelona.[57]
Within one day of departure, members aboard the flotilla were already reporting unidentified drones following them in international waters.[58] Some of the boats made a technical stop in Menorca and Mallorca in the morning of 3 September to repair mechanical issues, whilst up to five vessels once again returned to Barcelona due to unfavourable weather conditions.[59][60] On the same date, two vessels were reported still in the Barcelona harbor, never having left the harbor in the first place for mechanical issues similar to the vessels that had stopped in Menorca and Mallorca. During the first nights, many participants of the Spanish convoy allegedly experienced seasickness and vomiting, and the vessels had to endure water leaks, electrical problems and further mechanical issues.[60]
Steering committee member Thiago Ávila announced that, during the night of 4 and 5 September, the Spanish convoy would divide in two groups: one would continue to head towards Tunis, whilst the other would wait in Menorca for those ships still docked in Barcelona, in order to prevent any ship from being left alone at sea for security reasons.[61] On 7 September, part of the convoy arrived at the port of Sidi Bou Said in northern Tunisia to large crowds of supporters.[62]
During the convoy's voyage, a pro-Israeli Spanish national, Jordi Ventura, followed the flotilla while playing Israeli and Jewish music off the coast of Menorca.[63]
By 1 September 2025, the Italian convoy from Genoa that had departed on 30 August was heading smoothly towards its immediate destination, Catania, where the second Italian convoy would embark, having met no difficulties in its navigation effort.[65] In the meantime, the Italian-based humanitarian NGOEmergency officially announced that it would be joining the initiative in Catania, sending its vessel Life Support, equipped for search and rescue (SAR) operations and medical assistance.[25][66]
The first three ships of the Genoese convoy to reach the proximity of Sicily were spotted and welcomed in the city of Syracuse on 3 September, awaiting for the departure of the Catania convoy, which was initially planned to depart on 4 September, but was later delayed by three days and further delayed to a week later.[67][68]
On 8 September, one day after the initial delay, and two days before the "final delay", the first boats from Catania started their journey, including the ones of the Flotilla's legal team.[69][70]
On 13 September, 18 boats sailed from Augusta, Sicily to rendezvous with the other convoys later, at sea.[71]
The following extra vessels (mostly sailing from Italy) were added to the vessel list for the convoy whilst one part of the convoy was in Tunisia (a further change is that Adagio 4 Felicita is no longer listed):[72]
An initiative from Otranto organized by Freedom Flotilla Italia and local parish was planned, with the departure of ships to Gaza scheduled for 24 September.[73] Alongside them, another convoy from Catania was scheduled soon after to depart on the same date.[74]
Vessels of the Italian convoy (as of 14September2025[update])
On 3 September 2025, the first Tunisian vessels from the southern ports of Djerba and Zarzis started to relocate to the port of Tunis, in order to start their voyage towards Gaza alongside the rest of the Tunisian convoy, with departure dates postponed soon after.[61][75] On 9 September, after the suspected drone attack, organisers affirmed that the convoy to Gaza would continue, while refraining from confirming a date.[76] Two days later, the convoy moved to the larger and better-equipped port of Bizerte ahead of its final planned departure.[77] On 12 September, the intended departure date was set for the following day.[78]
Greek
A departure from Syros was initially supposed to occur on 8 September,[79] but it was reportedly delayed to 11 September at first,[80] and afterwards to an unspecified later date.[81] Ultimately the ships departed from Syros on 14 September.[82]
Ships from Libya, including the Omar Al-Mukhtar ship (named after the Libyan anticolonial hero and revolutionary Omar al-Mukhtar) also declared that they would join the rest of the flotilla carrying Libyan, US, Canadian and British nationals from the port of Tripoli.[85][86][87]
By 17 September, the 24 vessels from the combined Spanish and Tunisian convoys were approaching the southern tip of Sicily, where 17 more boats in the Italian fleet were waiting at Portopalo di Capo Passero. When stationed in Portopalo, local sailors and citiziens helped the flotilla with its maintenance.[88] On the morning of 19 September, the convoy departed heading towards Greece.[89][90][91]
A further six vessels in the Greek convoy were underway from Syros towards a rendezvous point further east,[83] before also stopping in Adamantas, Milos.[92]
On 20 September, the departure from Portopalo di Capo Passero, a boat of the flotilla experienced significant mechanical issues 20 nautical miles away from the coast.[93]
On the night of 21 September, during their voyage towards Greek waters, the Flotilla spotted three drones in the proximity of the Flotilla. A message to the families of the participants was sent reassuring them of their safety soon after.[94][95]
On 22 September, the Greek convoy departed from Milos and started to head towards Crete, which the rest of the flotilla started to approach.[83] On the same day, the flotilla stated that they would arrive in Gaza in 7 days, thus on 29 September.[96] One drone was spotted following the Flotilla during the day.[97]
As the boats approached Crete, first reports of internal strife in the flotilla started to be reported. Allegedly, the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla portion of the convoy openly protested numerous times the presence of LGBTQ+ people on the boats.[98]
The first boats from the Greek convoy reached the shores of Crete on 23 September.[99] Later that night, around 15 drones circled low above the Alma ship for several hours in an interval of every 10 minutes.[100]
On the night of 24 September, numerous ships including "Zefiro" were reported to be damaged, allegedly by drones.[101][102][103]
Incendiary attacks on vessels
Familia Madeira
On the night between 8 and 9 September 2025, GSF member Yasemin Acar reported that a drone had struck the main ship of the convoy, the Portuguese Familia Madeira (known among participants as the Family Boat),[104][105] ahead of its departure from Tunis, briefly setting it on fire. The vessel reportedly carried the members who had taken part in the June mission, including Acar herself, Thunberg and Ávila.[106][107][108] Shortly after, members of the flotilla posted a video from security cameras showing a vessel being set ablaze by something falling from above.[109]CNN described the video as depicting "an incendiary object fall from the sky", that exploded upon impact.[110]El País reported that, according to an investigation, "the drone launched a projectile, igniting the flames, which were extinguished minutes later".[111]France24 reported "an improvised incendiary dropped from a commercial or retail drone", was the likely outcome based on expert and video analysis.[104]Bellingcat declared that the object "must have been deployed from an aerial platform" and that background sound analysis appeared to be "consistent with that of a drone". Armament Research Services director described the sound in videos as "a flying object such as a UAV or light aircraft", but that it remained inconclusive.[112]
Alma
The night after the fire on the Familia Madeira, a drone attack on another GSF vessel in Sidi Bou Said, the British-flagged Alma, was reported by the crew. No one was injured.[113][114] Organizers described an incendiary device dropped onto vessel similar to the previous attack.[115] A video of the incident was again authenticated by BBC Verify;[116] a weapons expert described the recovered device as "clearly some kind of grenade ... most likely delivered by drone" and as "common but not exclusive to some models of Israeli hand grenades".[117][118] Bellingcat reported the likelihood of "improvised incendiary munitions" being used in both attacks, based on expert opinion from analysis of videos and images, with the devices recovered appearing the same. [112]
On the night of 24 September, the Zefiro boat, approaching Crete, was damaged and allegedly striked by what the crew on board defined as drones.[101][102] This came after the participants heard significant explosions during the night.[119] Right after the incident, a German activist on board, Yasemin Acar, reported that at least 5 vessels were struck in a very short period of time.[103]
Response to the attacks
In response to the Familia Madeira attack, the Tunisian National Guard said it hadn't detected any drones in the area and that the fire started amongst the life jackets on board the ship,[120][121] suggesting that a cigarette could have been responsible for the fire.[18] Expert analysis reported by BBC Verify stated that the video "casts serious doubt on the Tunisian authorities' version of events".[122] GSF subsequently called for the evacuation of flotilla ships, however some participants and volunteers have decided to remain in order to protect the vessels.[111] According to organisers, the Portuguese ship sustained damage to the main deck as well as below-deck.[18] A GSF spokesperson held Israel responsible for the incident,[123] and the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, who was herself in Tunis to salute the convoy, speculated that Israel could be responsible, declaring that, "If confirmed, it is an attack against Tunisian sovereignty."[105]
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called on Israel to "respect the rights of its citizens involved," reporting to parliament that the flotilla would be monitored, while providing diplomatic support to the 57 Italian citizens participating in the flotilla.[124] The Unione Sindacale di Base of Italy stated that, in response to the both the Alma and Familia Madeira attacks, it would declare a general strike on 22 September, blocking ports, highways, and stations in co-operation with the Autonomous Collective of Port Workers of Genoa.[125] Soon after the strikes and the protests occurred successfully,[126] involving over 70 Italian cities,[127] the Flotilla thanked Italian strikers and protesters for their support through a statement by Yassine Lafram, the president of the Union of Islamic Communities and Organisations in Italy.[128]
Various sources questioned where the drones originally departed, with suggestions including Malta, Greece (namely Crete) or Italy (specifically from Sigonella, where in the previous days Israeli planes had made a landing).[129][130][131]
After the attacks on the Flotilla on 24 September, Francesca Albanese expressed her support for the Flotilla by calling for immediate international protection to be declared.[132]
On 3 September 2025, upon reports that an Israeli KC-130H military plane had made a round trip from Nevatim Airbase to Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, AVS deputy and Green Europe spokesperson Angelo Bonelli requested that the government clarify whether the aircraft was "spying the Global Sumud Flotilla [...] or loading war material." The Italian Army Staff replied that it was a "technical landing" for "logistical support" from the US Army, "in full compliance with national laws and international agreements."[44][140] The next day, questioned by opposition leader Elly Schlein, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed that, like Spain, Italy would guarantee the safety of the flotilla's Italian participants; however, she discouraged Italians from taking part in the initiative, suggesting they use "safer and already existing means" to send humanitarian aid to Gaza and labelling the flotilla as "unnecessarily dangerous".[34][141] Her reaction was met with criticism from some of the Italian participants, who highlighted the death hazard posed by the airdrops used by the Italian government that far.[34]
In Spain, former mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau expressed her support for the initiative and chose to also embark, whilst another Spanish politician and MEP, Jaume Asens, stated he planned to be aboard one of the ships but only for a "few miles", stating his support for the cause. Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares stated that Spain would deploy "all necessary protection" so as to secure the safety of all Spanish participants and politicians on board if needed.[8][32][34]
Portuguese representation included Mariana Mortágua, activist Miguel Duarte and the actress Sofia Aparício. Mortágua expected her parliamentary immunity to provide legal protection; however, Portuguese foreign minister Paulo Rangel said that she would not have diplomatic immunity and Portugal would not provide protection to the flotilla under international law, apart from consular protection.[8]
In South Africa, public support has been observed, including the participation of some individuals such as local members of Jews for a Free Palestine.[143]
President of Colombia Gustavo Petro issued an official statement of support and solidarity with the flotilla upon its departure.[144]
An EU Commission spokesperson commented that they did not stand with the flotilla as they believed such initiatives could "worsen the situation," suggesting, like Giorgia Meloni, that it would be best to use "pre-existing humanitarian means".[145][146]
On 16 September, foreign ministers of 16 countries that represent flotilla participants released a joint statement expressing security concerns, and declared that "any violation of international law and human rights of the participants in the Flotilla, including attacks against the vessels in international waters or illegal detention, will lead to accountability."[147]
Israeli reaction
Israeli minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir presented a plan of action on how to stop and react to the Global Sumud Flotilla arrival. According to him, despite the initiative's humanitarian nature, it still was to be considered a threat to "undermine Israel's sovereignty and support Hamas in Gaza." Thus, he proposed that members be sent to Ketziot and Damon prisons and treated as terrorists.[148] The GSF issued an official response, describing Ben Gvir's words as an act of intimidation and a smear campaign constituting "a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions". The group denounced the illegality of the Israeli blockade and highlighted the right of Palestinians in Gaza to control their territorial waters, calling for protection from the international community and qualifying their mission as "humanitarian, lawful, and unstoppable".[149]Israel Hayom reported that among drafting plans to arrest Thunberg, the minister also intends to seize the flotilla vessels and convert them into a police fleet.[150]
On 1 September 2025, a few hours before the flotilla departed from Barcelona for its second time, the Israeli Navy conducted maritime drills in conjunction with the Gaza Division. The Times of Israel and Al Jazeera both noted that the navy troops practised "a variety of combat scenarios". This was suggested to be a training exercise for a planned assault on the flotilla.[61][151][152][153]
On 19 September 2025, a group of 200 to 250 anti zionistIsraeli Jews and Israeli Arabs gathered near the border of the Gaza Strip to denounce the Gaza War, the Israeli blockade and support the Sumud Flotilla.[155][156][157] The event was organized by Radical Bloc, a local radical left organization, and a contingent of the Hadash party, based in Jaffa, Tel Aviv, which in past days had already peacefully demonstrated their support for the Flotilla.[157][158]
On 22 September Israel's foreign ministry officially stated that Israel was going to "stop the Flotilla" due to the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemtism's verdict regarding the flotilla's ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. They also stated that if the Flotilla was "truly an humanitarian convoy" they were free to dock in the port of Ashkelon, where the Israeli would "take care of the rest."[159][160][161][162]
Palestinian reaction
The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, based in Omar Mukhtar Street, Gaza, called for support and solidarity with the flotilla, asking the international community to guarantee the protection of the vessels and its sailors.[163]
The Gaza Tribes Union and the Follow-Up Committee of National and Islamic Forces also praised the flotilla a few days after its departure.[165] The Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement issued a militant salute to port workers in Genoa and Athens for their statements in solidarity with the flotilla, and joined their threats to ignite a global workers' strike.[166]
↑ Ben Hamadi, Monia (11 September 2025). "Gaza: le sort incertain de la flottille humanitaire «Global Sumud», toujours bloquée en Tunisie"[Gaza: The uncertain fate of the humanitarian flotilla "Global Sumud", still blocked in Tunisia]. Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 12 September 2025. Si les orages sont la raison officielle du report, ils évoquent également des blocages d'ordre sécuritaire, administratif et logistique. En outre, plusieurs navires doivent encore subir des vérifications techniques et ne sont toujours pas prêts à prendre la mer. Pour faciliter l'organisation, la majorité des embarcations arrivées de Barcelone autour du 7 septembre ont mis le cap, jeudi 11 septembre, vers le port de Bizerte, dans le nord de la Tunisie, mieux équipé pour accueillir les plus grands navires de la flottille.[While storms are the official reason for the postponement, they also cite security, administrative, and logistical obstacles. In addition, several ships still need to undergo technical inspections and are still not ready to set sail. To facilitate the organization, the majority of the vessels that arrived from Barcelona around September 7th set sail on Thursday, September 11th, for the port of Bizerte, in northern Tunisia, which is better equipped to accommodate the larger ships in the flotilla.]
↑ "Flotilla Tracker". Global Sumud Flotilla. Retrieved 23 September 2025. Tracker shows 51 active vessels, 6 at Sicily, 39 sailing onward from Sicily, near Crete, and the Greek convoy of 6 in a bay at Xerobia, Crete
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