Maghreb Sumud Flotilla delays Tunisia departure to join Gaza aid mission
A flotilla carrying activists and humanitarian aid to Gaza set sail from Barcelona’s port late after a forced return a day earlier due to bad weather at Sea, September 2, 2025. (AA Photo)
September 03, 2025 05:34 PM GMT+03:00
The Maghreb Sumud Flotilla announced it has postponed its departure from Tunisia to September 7 in order to wait for the international Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to break the Gaza blockade and deliver humanitarian aid.
In a written statement on social media, organizers said the delay was caused by a one-day setback in the Global Sumud Flotilla’s schedule. Vessels departing from Barcelona, Spain, faced poor weather conditions and adjustments to differing timetables.
Organizers emphasize coordination
The Maghreb Sumud Flotilla said the rescheduling would allow for stronger coordination “worthy of such a major global event.”
Organizers thanked supporters of the campaign and underscored the importance of standing with the Palestinian people, highlighting the humanitarian crisis caused by the blockade on Gaza.
The humanitarian organization Freedom Flotilla Coalition is in Catania from where the ship Madleen will depart on its mission to break the siege on Gaza. The Madleen a sailboat, will stop in Catania between May 30 and next June 1, in the port of San Giovanni Li Cuti, and then set sail with the goal of reaching the Palestinian coast. Greta Thunberg is also awaited in Catania for the departure of the Freedom Flottilla ship to denounce the Israeli blockade and provide emergency aid to the civilian population in Catania, Italy, June 01, 2025. (AA Photo)
Previous flotillas challenging the Gaza blockade
The Maghreb Sumud Flotilla is part of a long tradition of civilian maritime missions attempting to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. Since the blockade was imposed in 2007, numerous flotillas have set sail in defiance of the siege, often facing interception in international waters.
- 2008–2016: Free Gaza Movement
The earliest successful attempts came in 2008, when two boats from the Free Gaza Movement reached Gaza. Between 2008 and 2016, the movement launched 31 missions, five of which successfully docked in Gaza despite Israeli restrictions. - 2010: Gaza Freedom Flotilla & Blue Marmara
The most infamous mission was the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which included the Blue Marmara. Israeli commandos raided the vessel in international waters, killing 10 activists and injuring dozens. The incident sparked global outrage and led to a diplomatic crisis between Israel and Türkiye. - 2024–2025: Madleen and Handala Missions
In recent years, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition resumed efforts with vessels like the Madleen and Handala. - Madleen was intercepted in June 2025, 100 nautical miles from Gaza, with activists including Greta Thunberg and Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad detained and deported.
- Handala, launched in July 2025, was also seized by Israeli forces. Both missions carried humanitarian supplies and were part of a broader campaign to establish a civilian sea corridor to Gaza.
Despite repeated interceptions, these flotillas have galvanized international solidarity and drawn attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The current Global Sumud Flotilla, joined by the Maghreb delegation, represents the largest coordinated effort to date, with over 50 vessels and delegations from 44 countries.
September 03, 2025 05:34 PM GMT+03:00
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