How Has Israel Responded to Past Gaza Aid Flotillas Aimed at Breaking the Blockade?

The Global Sumud Flotilla is the third attempt this year by activists to deliver aid to Gaza by sea, amid an ongoing Israeli blockade that has prevented aid from entering the Palestinian enclave for over five months.

The largest civilian and humanitarian fleet since the Israeli blockade of Gaza began is set to sail to the Palestinian enclave today from Barcelona.

The Global Sumud Flotilla will be the “biggest attempt ever to break the illegal Israeli siege over Gaza”, said Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who is part of the flotilla’s steering committee and will be on board.

In addition to the ships leaving Spain today, dozens of other vessels are expected to leave Tunisian and other Mediterranean ports on September 4, said Thunberg, who was previously abducted by Israeli forces and deported from Israel after taking part in a Gaza aid flotilla mission.

As well as Thunberg, the flotilla will include activists from several countries, European lawmakers, and public figures such as former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau.

Two earlier missions, in June and July, were intercepted by Israeli forces, with passengers abducted, forcibly taken to Israel and later forced to leave.

Thunberg and Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan were among those on the first ship, the Madleen, in June. Amnesty International said Israel had no legal basis for seizing the vessel and accused it of endangering passengers.

Amnesty Secretary-General Agnes Callamard called the Madleen mission an “indictment of the international community’s failure to put an end to Israel’s inhumane blockade”.

“Activists would not have needed to risk their lives had Israel’s allies translated their rhetoric into forceful action to allow aid into Gaza,” Callamard added.

In July, a second Gaza-bound aid ship, the Handala, was also seized by Israeli forces while carrying 21 activists, including European lawmaker Emma Fourreau and Tunisian trade unionist Hatem Aouini.