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The Global Sumud Flotilla has drawn international attention with the participation of high-profile activists and figures from politics and the arts, setting sail to challenge Israel’s blockade on Gaza.
Mandla Mandela, grandson of the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, has announced that he will join the Global Sumud Flotilla, which will leave from Tunis, declaring that Africa is part of this struggle.
“As Africans, we know very well what it means to live under occupation, under oppression,” he told journalists, describing his participation as a continuation of his family legacy.
He says his part in the protest is a continuation of his "family legacy."
In addition to Mandela’s grandson, the Sumud Flotilla also published on X that Susan Sarandon will also participate in this initiative aimed at breaking the Gaza blockade.
Sarandon is a renowned American actress, widely recognized for her pro-Palestinian stance amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
"You don’t have to be Palestinian to care about what’s happening in Gaza. I stand with Palestine. No one is free until everyone is free," she wrote.
Also joining from Tunisia, French actress Adele Haenel announced her participation, marking her return to public life after stepping away from cinema for political reasons.
Among the activists from dozens of countries on board the flotilla's ships are Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, as well as European elected officials like La France Insoumise MEP Emma Fourreau and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
Meanwhile, British journalist and activist Yvonne Ridley will join the flotilla from the Libyan ship Omar al-Mukhtar, scheduled to set sail on Sept. 6.
More than a hundred people are expected to embark from Tunisia on Sunday. Initially planned for last Thursday, the departure was postponed due to weather conditions and delays affecting the flotilla that left Barcelona.
The mission also includes Liam Cunningham, an Irish actor, best known for his role in "Game of Thrones," who joined the Barcelona delegation and delivered a speech condemning global indifference and the normalization of violence against children in Gaza.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg, Spanish actor Eduardo Fernandez, and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau are also taking part.
Türkiye is represented by a large delegation of parliamentarians, activists, journalists, and artists. Political figures include Sema Silkin Un from the Gelecek Party, Mehmet Atmaca and Necmettin Caliskan from the Saadet Party, and Faruk Dinc from the Huda Party.
The initiative has received strong backing from U.N. Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who said the flotilla fully complies with international law. She warned that any attempt to intercept it would constitute a violation of maritime law and urged U.N. member states to ensure its protection.
Spanish actress Ester Exposito has also voiced her support for the mission, acknowledging that her solidarity with Palestine might generate hostility but expressing admiration for those on board.
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