Who Are the Gaza-Bound Global Sumud Flotilla Activists Abducted and Detained by Israeli Forces?

The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail in late August 2025, departing from ports in Spain and Italy before stopping in Greece and Tunisia as it made its way across the Mediterranean.

The mission, one of the largest aid missions to attempt to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, began with more than 50 vessels representing at least 44 countries, carrying some 500 international activists.

As the flotilla approached the enclave, Israeli naval forces boarded the boats, cut off communications, jammed signals, and abducted the activists, forcing them to Israel for deportation.

However, according to the organizers, about 461 activists from over 40 countries are still detained by Israeli forces.

On board was a symbolic yet significant amount of humanitarian cargo, including food, medical supplies, and other essentials for Gaza’s starving population, which has been under Israeli blockade since March 2.

Israel claimed the volunteers were trying to “breach a lawful naval blockade”, but organisers say international law is clear that humanitarian aid should be let through.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is a coalition of “everyday people, organizers, humanitarians, doctors, artists, clergy, lawyers, and seafarers, who believe in human dignity and the power of nonviolent action,” according to the mission’s website.

Pro-Palestine activists are now calling on their governments to take action and release the volunteers who are still in Israeli detention amid reports of harsh treatment, including insufficient water and food and forced to kiss the Israeli flag.

Here’s a list of some of the names of these heroes:

• Greta Thunberg: the Swedish activist is one of the world’s best-known climate change campaigners.
• Ada Colau: former mayor of Barcelona, the first woman to hold the office, and human rights activist.
• Zwelivelile Mandela: the grandson of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.
• Susan Sarandon: an American actress and activist.
• Mariana Mortágua: a leading figure of the Portuguese Left Bloc party.
• Thiago Ávila: a Brazilian humanitarian and climate activist.
• Four Members of France’s Parliament: Francois Piquemal, Marie Mesmeur, Rima Hassan and Emma Fourreau.
• Tadhg Hickey: an Irish comedian and rising activist.
• Shifa Abdi: a Somali-origin activist holding Finnish citizenship.
• Sarah Wilkinson: a 62-year-old veteran British pro-Palestine campaigner.