The first ships of the “Sumud flotilla” left Marseille to break the blockade of Gaza

According to France 24, thousands of people gathered for the farewell ceremony, chanting “Gaza, Marseille is with you!” In total, the flotilla will include 100 vessels. Its main part is due to depart from Barcelona on April 12. A week’s stop in Italy is planned.

In early February, pro-Palestinian activists said more than a thousand people were expected to attend, including doctors, investigators specializing in crimes against humanity, and engineers. At the same time, convoys with humanitarian aid from Egypt and Tunisia will be sent to the Gaza Strip.

Organizers of the flotilla gathered at the Nelson Mandela Foundation headquarters in Johannesburg. Among them was the grandson of the late South African President Mandla Mandela, who was detained in October 2025 during the interception of the “Sumuda flotilla” and deported from Israel.

According to Mandela, the purpose of the flotilla is to bring Israel to its knees. “We expect that thousands of people will take part, including from Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan, who will break into occupied Palestine and Gaza. We want to mobilize the entire international community,” he said.

Let us remember that last year’s “Sumud flotilla” consisted of dozens of ships. 42 of them were intercepted by the IDF on October 1, 2025, and another nine a few days later. Around 400 pro-Palestinian activists, including Greta Thunberg, have been deported from Israel.