“We will cause Israel to collapse”: with more than 100 ships – the new flotilla to Gaza

Activists who were behind the “Somod flotilla” to Gaza last year announced last night (Thursday) a new flotilla to Gaza. According to them, the new flotilla is expected to be “the largest coordinated humanitarian operation in history” for the Palestinians. According to the organizers, the flotilla will set off next month and will include more than 100 ships that will sail at the same time as a ground aid convoy.

Behind the flotilla is the protest organization “The World Somod Flotilla”. Among the organizers is Mandela Mandela, the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela. In the announcement of the new flotilla, Mandela the grandson called on the international community to act to prevent the IDF forces from stopping the new flotilla.

“We recognize that as a collective around the world we can isolate the apartheid state of Israel, cause it to collapse and bring it to its knees, just as we did in South Africa,” Mandela said. He called on activists from around the world to join: “Registration for the 2026 mission is now open.”

According to the organizers of the flotilla, this time it is not just a few dozen activists. The organizers are planning a mass recruitment of participants from 100 countries, including professional teams. According to them, the flotilla will have more than 1,000 medical personnel, alongside war crimes investigators, engineers, educators and rehabilitation teams.

The ships are expected to leave on March 29 from ports in Spain, Tunisia and Italy towards the shores of Gaza. At the same time, a ground convoy is expected to pass through Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, with the aim of recruiting thousands more activists who will “try to enter the Strip from any possible border”.

The organizers said they were well aware of the possibility of a frontal confrontation with the Israeli Navy, but claimed that they were covered under the protection of international law. Thiago Avila, a Brazilian activist, referred to the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and claimed that “Israel or any other country is prohibited from interfering with humanitarian missions on their way to Gaza.”

The previous flotilla, in October, was much smaller. It included 40 vessels. In the same incident, naval fighters stopped the vessel in international waters. About 450 participants were arrested at the time, including Mandela Mandela himself, climate activist Greta Thunberg and member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan. That flotilla was preceded by two smaller flotillas, in June and July, they were also stopped before reaching their destination.

The organizers of the current flotilla clarify that it is not just a voyage, but an “insurrection of the entire world” against the “siege and mass starvation”. “This is the enemy we are facing,” said Saif Abu-Kashq, one of the organizers, “this is a way of life that determines the future of other nations.”