A powerful wave of international solidarity has set sail from the Tunisian port of Bizerte, as the Global Sumud Flotilla embarks on its historic mission to break Israel’s brutal siege of Gaza and deliver life-saving aid to the besieged Palestinian people.

The inaugural ship’s departure was marked by tears, chants, and prayers as hundreds of Tunisians lined the port in a moving show of support. Organizers posted an emotional video on social media platform X, declaring: “Global Sumud Flotilla’s first ship departs Tunisia, bound for Gaza.” The message encapsulated the spirit of defiance driving this unprecedented effort to pierce the 18-year-old blockade that has turned Gaza into what human rights groups describe as the world’s largest open-air prison.

The flotilla, the largest of its kind, brings together nearly 50 vessels from over 45 countries and carries between 500 and 700 participants, including activists, parliamentarians, artists, doctors, and journalists. Among them is Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who joined the “Family” boat earlier this week, and French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, who emphasized that when governments remain silent in the face of genocide, “citizens must act.”

This multinational convoy follows earlier launches from ports across Europe and Asia, including Genoa, Barcelona, and Catania, as well as Malaysian aid vessels sailing under the “Sumud Nusantara Asian Flotilla” banner. The fleet aims to converge near Gaza by mid-September, creating a powerful visual and moral challenge to Israel’s naval blockade and calling for a permanent humanitarian corridor.

“Our peaceful voyage to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza and stand in unwavering solidarity with its people presses forward with determination and resolve,” the coalition of organizers declared in a joint statement.

The voyage, however, has not been without danger. In the past week, two ships—including the “Family” boat carrying Thunberg—were reportedly attacked by drones near Tunisia’s coast. Video footage shared by the flotilla showed flames on deck and what appeared to be remnants of explosive devices. While Tunisian officials have denied any such attacks, organizers believe the strikes were a warning, pointing to Israel’s long history of violent interdictions, including the deadly 2010 Mavi Marmara raid that killed 10 activists and the recent seizure of aid vessels Madleen and Handala earlier this year.

Despite these threats, the convoy is pushing ahead, with additional ships from Barcelona joining soon to form a second wave. The flotilla’s mission is taking place against the backdrop of one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in modern history: Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza since October 2023 has killed more than 64,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left entire neighborhoods in ruins. The enclave is now in famine, according to international monitors, as Israel continues to block aid deliveries.

Global solidarity has surged in response. Rallies have erupted across Tunisia, dockworkers’ unions in Europe have pledged strikes if the flotilla is obstructed, and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have vowed to stage protests at U.S. ports and embassies demanding safe passage. A real-time monitoring system developed with Forensic Architecture has been activated to document any attack or sabotage attempt on the flotilla.

In Gaza, hope flickers amid the devastation. Palestinian activist Mariam Abu Taha shared a video of a young girl looking out toward the sea, awaiting the flotilla’s arrival. “Gaza, we’re coming,” Rima Hassan wrote, capturing the emotional weight of the mission.

Whether the Global Sumud Flotilla will succeed in breaking the blockade remains uncertain, but its very launch is already a moral victory. It sends a message to Tel Aviv and to the world: the Palestinian people are not alone, and global civil society will not stand by while Gaza is starved into submission. (ILKHA)