Amnesty International has called on Israel to permit the Global Sumud Flotilla to proceed unhindered in its mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, warning that any attempt to block the convoy would violate international law and humanitarian principles.

In a statement issued Monday, the UK-based rights organization described the flotilla as a “powerful and inspiring act of solidarity” with Palestinians enduring what it termed genocide and a humanitarian catastrophe under Israel’s 18-year naval blockade of Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising more than 50 ships and carrying activists from 44 countries, set sail from Barcelona on Sunday, August 31, with critical supplies including food, medicine, and baby formula. Severe weather conditions, with winds exceeding 30 knots (55.5 km/h), forced the convoy to return to port on Monday. Organizers later met to discuss resuming the journey, with hopes of departing again the same evening if weather permitted.

A second wave of ships is scheduled to depart from Tunisia on September 4, joining vessels from Italy, Greece, and elsewhere in the Mediterranean.

“This is the largest solidarity mission in history, with more people and more boats than all previous attempts combined,” said Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, a steering committee member, during a press conference in Barcelona.

The coalition behind the mission includes the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, Global Movement to Gaza, and Sumud Nusantara. Their stated goal is to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza and spotlight the worsening crisis, where famine has been declared and more than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023.

Among the notable participants are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, Spanish actor Eduardo Fernández, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, and Portuguese lawmaker Mariana Mortágua. Delegations include doctors, artists, and activists from across six continents, from South Africa to Australia and Brazil.

Amnesty condemned Israel’s blockade as “one of the worst manmade humanitarian disasters in the world,” stressing that international law obligates Israel to guarantee access to essential supplies.

“There can be no justification for obstructing life-saving aid,” the group declared, calling for the blockade’s immediate end. Amnesty also criticized world governments for failing to exert pressure on Israel, noting that the very existence of the flotilla reflected international inaction.

The mission’s name, Sumud—Arabic for “steadfastness” or “resilience”—echoes earlier efforts to challenge Israel’s blockade. These include the 2008 Free Gaza Movement, the 2010 Mavi Marmara tragedy, and more recent voyages such as the Madleen and Handala, which were intercepted this year by Israeli forces.

In June, Greta Thunberg and Thiago Ávila were among those detained aboard the Madleen, while U.S. labor leader Chris Smalls reported being assaulted during Israel’s July seizure of the Handala.

Organizers insist the flotilla is a nonviolent initiative protected under international maritime law and the Geneva Conventions, which define Israel’s blockade as collective punishment.

“Our boats carry more than aid. They carry a message—the siege must end,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement, warning that any interception would constitute piracy and a war crime.

Support for the flotilla is gaining momentum. The Climate Action Network, representing more than 2,000 civil society organizations, has urged governments to ensure the convoy’s safe passage. U.S.-based CODEPINK and other advocacy groups are mobilizing rallies and online campaigns to amplify the mission’s message.

Despite setbacks and risks, organizers vow to press ahead. “The people of Gaza need us to raise our collective voices,” said Yasemin Acar, a flotilla steering committee member. “We are coming back stronger.”

For now, the fate of the Global Sumud Flotilla depends on weather conditions and Israel’s response—but activists insist their mission is unstoppable. (ILKHA)