Flotilla Carrying Greta Thunberg Departs Barcelona Bound for Gaza
About 350 activists on roughly 20 vessels set off with food and medical supplies in a mission organisers say aims to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza
A flotilla of about 20 vessels carrying roughly 350 pro-Palestinian activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, departed Barcelona on Monday evening bound for Gaza, organisers said.
The boats, flying Palestinian flags and stocked with medical and food supplies, left the Spanish port at about 7 p.m. local time after an initial attempt to set sail on Sunday was aborted because of stormy weather. The Global Sumud Flotilla Mission said the departure aims to "break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza" and to "open up a humanitarian corridor," a message Thunberg relayed in a video statement posted by the organisers.
Organisers plan the mission in two waves: the Barcelona departure on Monday and a second group scheduled to leave Tunis on Sept. 4. Activists said they hoped the two groups would converge in the central Mediterranean before making the roughly seven- to eight-day voyage toward Gaza. Previous efforts to reach Gaza by sea have been intercepted by Israeli forces, organisers and reporting on earlier missions have said.
The flotilla includes a mix of small boats and larger vessels and carries aid supplies that organisers say are intended for civilians in Gaza. Participants include international activists, humanitarian workers and public figures; Thunberg's involvement has drawn significant international attention to the mission. Punk musician Bob Vylan addressed supporters at the flotilla's departure events over the weekend, a figure whose previous comments at public events have provoked controversy.
Organisers described the mission as a peaceful humanitarian effort. They framed the voyage as a test of international willingness to facilitate aid to Gaza by sea and as a protest against what they describe as a longstanding blockade. The wording that the blockade is "illegal" reflects the organisers' position; this characterisation has been disputed by Israeli officials in the past, who cite security concerns in enforcing naval restrictions on Gaza.
Officials in Spain and other countries have in prior cases signalled concern about attempts to breach maritime controls in the region, and Israeli authorities have on earlier occasions intercepted vessels attempting to approach Gaza. Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission have said they expect possible interception and have framed the voyage as both a delivery of aid and a political challenge to maritime restrictions.
It was not immediately clear when the flotilla would attempt to approach Gaza waters or how Israeli forces might respond to this specific mission. The organisers' timetable calls for several days at sea as vessels from Barcelona and Tunis rendezvous; weather, maritime traffic and potential enforcement actions could affect that schedule.
The departure from Barcelona comes amid heightened international attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and ongoing debates over access for aid. The flotilla's organisers say the mission aims to spotlight and alleviate civilian suffering; critics warn that attempts to break maritime restrictions risk confrontation at sea and may complicate diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.
Further updates on the flotilla's progress and any official responses from coastal states or naval authorities were expected in the coming days as the vessels head into the Mediterranean.