Israeli forces again strike Global Sumud Flotilla with drones, explosions
Organizers of the Gaza-bound Global Freedom humanitarian aid flotilla reported late Tuesday that Israeli forces launched multiple attacks on their vessels, with at least 13 explosions heard on and around several boats, alongside widespread communications disruption, drone harassment, projectiles, and blasts, while the flotilla was 600 nautical miles from Gaza.
Over the past few hours, more than 15 drones have repeatedly hovered at low altitudes above the Alma boat, appearing approximately every 10 minutes.
Drone attacks have destroyed the mast of the ZAFIRO boat, a member of the Global Sumud Flotilla fleet.
One video posted by the group showed what appeared to be a flashbang accompanied by a loud explosion.
Flotilla participants reported objects being dropped on at least 10 boats from drones or aircraft, causing damage. No fatalities have been reported, and they said the extent of the damage will be fully assessed in daylight.
“In the final days before reaching Gaza, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is experiencing an alarmingly dangerous escalation, with multiple boats reporting targeted explosions and unidentified objects being dropped on and near the boats, causing significant damage and widespread obstruction in communications,” read the press statement.
They alleged that this comes on top of a “sustained campaign of intimidation and disinformation by Israel, aimed at discrediting and endangering the 500+ unarmed civilians aboard the flotilla who are attempting to deliver food and medical supplies to Gaza to help end Israel’s illegal blockade.”
The organizers also dismissed Israel’s claims that the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is a ‘Hamas flotilla’ planning violent action, calling it a “disinformation campaign aimed at pre-emptively justifying military action against a civilian-led, nonviolent, humanitarian mission.”
Civilians, including those on humanitarian missions, are protected under the Geneva Conventions. Any attack on this mission would constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
By obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israel is violating the International Court of Justice’s binding provisional measures, which require it to allow and facilitate such aid.
The Global Sumud Flotilla demanded that all UN Member States, particularly those whose nationals are aboard the vessels, immediately ensure effective protection, including maritime escort, accredited diplomatic observers, and an overt protective state presence, so the flotilla can proceed safely, the mission continue unimpeded, and international law prevail over acts of annihilation.
They also called on the UN General Assembly to place the attacks on the flotilla on its agenda and adopt a resolution addressing these grave violations.
They condemned the actions, stating, “The lengths to which Israel and its allies will go to prolong the horrors of starvation and genocide in Gaza are sickening. But our resolve is stronger than ever.”
Emphasizing their mission, they affirmed, “These tactics will not deter us from our mission to deliver aid to Gaza and break the illegal siege. Every attempt to intimidate us only strengthens our commitment. We will not be silenced. We will continue to sail.”
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese urged immediate international attention, emphasizing that protection for the flotilla’s participants is urgently required.
French MP Rima Hassan, tagging President Emmanuel Macron on X, said, “Several dozen French nationals are present on board the flotilla! These attacks must stop!”
The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising over 50 ships, set sail earlier this month with the mission to break Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, to Gaza, where 2.4 million Palestinians have been under siege for 18 years.
The GSF is the largest civilian maritime effort to deliver aid to Gaza, involving thousands of participants from over 44 countries.
Among the prominent participants of the flotilla departing from various European ports in August 2025 are climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau.
Since March 2, 2025, the Israeli government has blocked all aid entering Gaza, including food, medicines, and fuel, an action widely criticized as a violation of international humanitarian law. Two previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza earlier this year were also blocked by Israel.
Earlier, 16 countries whose citizens are participating in the Sumud Flotilla expressed concern over its security, urging respect for international law and international humanitarian law. The foreign ministers of Qatar, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Pakistan, Oman, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, and Türkiye issued a joint statement, warning that “any violation of international law and human rights of the participants in the Flotilla, including attacks against the vessels in international waters or illegal detention, will lead to accountability.”
They emphasized that the flotilla’s purpose is “to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and raise awareness about the urgent humanitarian needs of Palestinians and the need to stop the war in Gaza.”
158 European lawmakers have also written to their foreign ministries, urging immediate action to protect the Global Sumud Flotilla, after it faced drone attacks in Tunisian waters before departure.
