Global Sumud flotilla to sail again for Gaza next spring

• The Global Sumud Flotilla has announced plans to launch a bigger and expanded humanitarian mission to Gaza in spring 2026, aiming to challenge ‘Israel's’ ongoing blockade and deliver essential aid.
• According to the mission's Türkiye coordinator, Hüseyin Durmaz, the initiative will feature broader international participation amid persistent failures in ceasefire implementation and unmet humanitarian needs in the territory.

Formed in July 2025 as a coalition of civil society groups including the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Global Movement to Gaza, the Sumud Flotilla—named after the Arabic term for steadfastness—previously attempted to reach Gaza in late 2025 with over 40 vessels and more than 500 participants from 44 countries.

That effort, which departed from ports in Europe and North Africa, encountered drone attacks and interceptions by ‘Israeli’ forces in international waters, leading to the detention of hundreds of activists and allegations of mistreatment, though ‘Israel’ denied these claims.

The mission is credited with heightening global pressure that contributed to a ceasefire in October 2025.

For the upcoming spring 2026 voyage, organizers anticipate deploying over 100 vessels and involving more than 3,000 participants from over 100 countries, marking it as the largest civilian-led maritime action for Palestine to date.

This includes a dedicated medical fleet with over 1,000 healthcare professionals intended to remain in Gaza to bolster the devastated health system. Recruitment efforts are underway, seeking volunteers such as organizers, medics, and technicians, with departures potentially from multiple international ports.

Durmaz emphasized that the ceasefire agreement has not been fully honored, with only 40 to 50 aid trucks entering Gaza daily—far below the promised hundreds—and many carrying commercial goods unaffordable to residents amid widespread destruction.

He described Gaza as "completely destroyed because of genocide," highlighting risks of famine, harsh winter conditions, and potential forced displacement by ‘Israeli’ authorities.

Over 70,000 Palestinians were killed—primarily women and children—during the ‘Israeli’ assault from October 2023 to October 2025, leaving the strip in ruins under an 18-year blockade intensified in recent years.