Smaller watercrafts challenged Israel's naval blockade of Gaza
Greta Thunberg, the renowned climate activist, has embarked on a new mission, joining the "Global Sumud Flotilla" aimed at breaking Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The flotilla, organized by Palestinian activists, consists of dozens of smaller boats carrying over 300 participants from more than 40 countries.
The flotilla set sail from Barcelona on the first leg of its approximately 6,000-kilometer journey towards Gaza. Hundreds of people gathered in Barcelona to see the activists off, demonstrating their support for the cause.
The term "Sumud" means steadfastness in Arabic, reflecting the determination of the participants to stand firm against the blockade. One of the organizers, Saif Abukeshek, accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip and called on politics to put pressure on Israel to end the "illegal blockade" and killings in the coastal strip.
Israel has previously prevented attempts to break the blockade, most recently in July when an Italian boat tried to do so. In June 2025, Greta Thunberg's previous solidarity action on the "Madleen" ended in failure when Israeli soldiers boarded the ship around 200 kilometers off the Gaza coast and brought it to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
Greta Thunberg has repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians and has advocated for the Palestinian population. She believes that social justice is inseparable from climate justice. However, critics argue that she ignores the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, which sparked the Gaza war and resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the kidnapping of more than 250 as hostages.
Greta Thunberg has rejected these allegations, stating that it's not antisemitic to advocate for peace, freedom, and dignity for all people. Spain's second deputy prime minister and labor minister, Yolanda Díaz, has also called for the suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel. The Spanish central government in Madrid and the Barcelona city council are among the supporters of the "Global Sumud Flotilla."
The journey in the "Global Sumud Flotilla" is expected to last for two weeks. Greta Thunberg's participation in the flotilla has drawn international attention to the ongoing issue of the Gaza Strip's naval blockade and the plight of its population. The flotilla is expected to grow with more boats from other countries joining the cause.
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