By Humaira Ahad

 

Tens of thousands of people in different countries took to the streets on Friday and Saturday in response to the Israeli attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla, highlighting the mission’s success in awakening nations to the ongoing genocide and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

 

Demonstrators rallied in cities across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, condemning Israel’s genocidal war and the detention of hundreds of activists who attempted to deliver aid to the besieged territory.

 

Some of the biggest rallies were held in Italy and Spain, including the one in Barcelona on Saturday that many described as the largest march in history in the Spanish city.

 

The flotilla, comprising at least 44 civilian vessels carrying around 500 activists from different countries, faced its first interception on Wednesday evening.

 

Israeli forces boarded multiple boats and detained volunteers, including renowned Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and several European lawmakers, taking them to a jail in the occupied territories.

 

By Thursday noon, the Israeli military reported that all but one vessel had been seized. On Friday morning, a livestreamed video showed Israeli forces boarding the Polish-flagged Marinette, the last operational vessel of the flotilla, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza. The Marinette reportedly had a crew of six.

 

Most of them were deported back to their countries on Saturday and Sunday. Some of them spoke to the media in Istanbul about how Thunberg was abused, tortured, dragged and forced to kiss the Israeli flag – apparently on the orders of Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who referred to them as “terrorists.”

 

Activists reported that Israeli naval forces had deliberately damaged communications on several vessels to block distress signals and livestreams as they approached Gaza.

 

Even in the weeks leading up to the interception and abduction, the flotilla’s vessels had faced repeated attacks.

 

Two unnamed American intelligence officials reported that, following Netanyahu’s orders, Israeli forces on September 8 and 9 launched drones from a submarine and dropped incendiary devices onto the boats that were moored outside the Tunisian port of SidiBou Said, causing a fire.

 

According to a report by CBS News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly approved drone strikes on two vessels that were part of the Gaza-bound Sumud flotilla

On September 8, an incendiary device struck the Family, a Portuguese-flagged vessel, one night after Portuguese lawmaker Mariana Mortágua had been on board.

 

The next day, the Alma, a British-flagged vessel, was attacked in the same way. Both boats sustained fire damage.

 

In separate incidents in late September, a group of activists said it was attacked by 15 low-altitude drones while sailing south of Greece.

 

At least 13 explosions were heard on and around the flotilla, and objects were dropped on at least 10 vessels, causing damage.

 

Meanwhile, the flotilla organisers reiterated their commitment to continue speaking against the ongoing genocide aided and abetted by the US and its allies.

 

“The world must take note; attempts to silence, intimidate, or obstruct our commitment to the Palestinian cause and people will not succeed. We call for urgent, independent investigations into these attacks and full accountability for those responsible,” it said.

 

Global reach of the flotilla

 

The flotilla included participants from 37 countries, with significant contingents from Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, and Malaysia.

 

Over 400 activists were detained following Israel’s attack on the flotilla. The International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza reported that some detainees even launched hunger strikes in Israeli custody.

 

The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission (Al-Asir) announced that the Zionist regime imprisoned activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla in the Negev Desert prison, widely regarded as one of the regime’s most notorious detention facilities.

 

While the flotilla carried only a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, its primary goal was to establish a maritime corridor into Gaza and highlight the severe humanitarian crisis after nearly two years of genocidal war.

 

The flotilla departed in late August 2025 from ports in Spain and Italy, stopping in Greece and Tunisia en route to Gaza.

 

Activists reported hostile encounters, including suspected drone strikes near Malta and Crete, which damaged some vessels and forced withdrawals.

 

By the time the convoy neared the eastern Mediterranean, 44 vessels remained, capturing international attention and prompting Spain and Italy to deploy naval ships to monitor the flotilla and assist if necessary.

 

However, the two countries stopped accompanying the international flotilla once it got within 278 kilometres of the Gaza shore, fearing attack from the Israeli forces.

International reactions

 

Governments and international human rights bodies responded strongly to the interception and abduction of activists who were part of the flotilla.

 

Iran’s foreign ministry condemned it, with spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stating that the aggression represented “a blatant violation of international law and an act of terrorism.”

 

He praised the humanitarian efforts of activists who had “stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people and sought to break the cruel blockade.”

 

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas called the attacks on flotilla vessels, activists, and accompanying journalists a “treacherous attack, a crime of piracy, and maritime terrorism.”

 

They emphasised that intercepting the flotilla “is a criminal act that must be condemned by all free people of the world.”

 

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned Israel’s “intimidation and coercion” of vessels carrying “unarmed civilians and life-saving humanitarian supplies for Gaza.”

 

He stated that Israel had shown “utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world.”

 

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris expressed concern over the Israeli raids, describing the flotilla as “a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe.”

 

In South America, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro expelled Israeli diplomats and ended the Free Trade Agreement with Israel as a mark of protest.

 

He described Netanyahu as demonstrating “his worldwide hypocrisy and why he is a worldwide criminal who must be captured.”

 

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil highlighted the blockade as “a tool of deliberate war, the continuation of genocide by other means, seeking to annihilate the population by starvation to complement their indiscriminate bombings.”

 

Turkey’s foreign ministry called Israel’s interception a “terrorist” act.

Protests across the globe

 

Mass demonstrations against the interruption of the Sumud Flotilla erupted in cities across Europe. In Italy, thousands gathered in Rome, Milan, Turin, Trento, Bari, and Palermo.

 

Large crowds marched from landmarks such as the Colosseum and central plazas, waving Palestinian flags and holding banners calling for an end to Israel’s blockade.

 

Commercial traffic at the port of Livorno was temporarily disrupted, and the national strike organised by Italian unions affected train services nationwide.

 

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, protests followed Friday prayers, with thousands marching in Karachi, Islamabad, and Dhaka. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and placards denouncing Israel’s actions.

 

In Malaysia, hundreds gathered in front of the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, expressing outrage over the abduction of activists and calling for an immediate end to the Gaza blockade.

 

Past flotilla attacks

 

The Global Sumud Flotilla was the most recent in a series of humanitarian maritime missions destined for Gaza, which was attacked by the Israeli occupation regime.

 

In May 2010, the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara, carrying over 600 activists, was stormed by Israeli forces in international waters, resulting in the deaths of 10 activists and injuries to dozens more.

 

Subsequent flotillas in 2011, 2015, and 2018 were similarly intercepted before reaching Gaza.

 

In 2025, following Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, new flotilla attempts met similar fates. The ship Conscience was struck by armed drones near Malta in early May, igniting a fire.

 

The Madleen was intercepted 100 nautical miles from Gaza in June, and the Handala was boarded by Israeli forces in July, with all 21 activists detained and deported.

 

These repeated interventions illustrate Israel’s continued determination to prevent humanitarian aid from reaching the besieged strip, according to activists and observers.

Symbolism and significance

 

While the flotilla was attacked, the mission achieved a broader objective: awakening global awareness and mobilising public opinion against Israel’s brutal blockade of Gaza.

 

The mass protests, political condemnations, and widespread attention generated by the mission highlight its success in transforming a symbolic humanitarian operation into a global statement on justice, legality, and human rights.

 

Even though the flotilla did not reach Gaza, its representational effect in galvanising public opinion against the Israeli regime has been substantial.

 

The flotilla has underscored the capacity of civil society to hold governments accountable and challenge entrenched geopolitical power structures.

 

The mission exemplifies a shift in global engagement, where civil society and grassroots activism intersect with geopolitical issues to highlight human rights and humanitarian concerns.

 

Though the ships were stopped, the flotilla’s impact continues to ripple across the world.

 

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