A fleet of activist ships, defiantly sailing towards Gaza, confirmed their readiness for a potential encounter with the Israeli navy. The declaration came Wednesday morning (October 1, 2025) after a tense overnight journey across the Mediterranean Sea, as the flotilla neared the blockaded Palestinian territory.
This remarkable convoy, known as the Global Sumud Flotilla, includes approximately 50 boats and 500 dedicated activists. Among them are notable figures such as Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers. Despite carrying only a symbolic quantity of humanitarian aid, their resolve remains unshaken: to challenge the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and establish direct contact with the Palestinian people.
From aboard the ‘Alma,’ one of the flotilla’s lead vessels, spokesperson Thiago Ávila updated reporters on Wednesday (October 1, 2025), stating, ‘Every minute we advance a little more.’ His words underscored the mission’s persistent progress.
By Wednesday afternoon (October 1, 2025), the boats were navigating international waters north of Egypt, having crossed into an area the activists provocatively termed a ‘danger zone.’ This region is notorious for past Israeli naval interceptions of similar flotillas, with warnings from Israeli authorities explicitly advising against entry.
During the night, activists reported an aggressive encounter with two Israeli warships. These vessels reportedly encircled two of their boats, actively jamming their communication systems and disabling their live cameras in a clear act of intimidation.
Lisi Proença, an activist aboard the ‘Sirius,’ one of the targeted vessels, described the incident as ‘an intimidation act. They wanted us to see them,’ emphasizing the psychological warfare at play.
Following this intense overnight confrontation, the military ships eventually withdrew. Undeterred, the flotilla resumed its course, with many of its boats continuing to broadcast their journey live.
As Wednesday afternoon progressed, a more relaxed atmosphere seemed to settle across the decks of several sailboats broadcasting live. Activists were seen holding up signs of solidarity with Gaza residents, chanting ‘Free Palestine!’ for the cameras, and even playing music in the background.
The flotilla, which embarked on its month-long voyage from Barcelona, Spain, aimed to reach Gaza’s shores by Thursday morning (October 2, 2025), according to the group. However, activists themselves acknowledged this was improbable, fully anticipating an interception by Israeli authorities, consistent with previous attempts to break the blockade.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labeled the flotilla’s actions a ‘provocation,’ urging them to halt their mission and reroute any aid through established channels into Gaza. He conveyed this message on X, stating, ‘It is not too late.’
The Israeli government has controversially alleged that some flotilla participants have ties to Hamas – an accusation vehemently denied by the activists, who interpret it as an attempt by Israel to legitimize potential military intervention against them.
Several European nations, including Spain and Italy (who had even provided naval escorts for a portion of the journey), urged the activists to reconsider and avoid a direct confrontation. While Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni voiced concerns that the flotilla’s actions could jeopardize U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent peace proposal for Gaza, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offered a different perspective, defending the mission.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, emphasized, ‘We must remember it is a humanitarian mission that wouldn’t be taking place if the Israeli government had allowed for the entry of aid.’ He further assured that Spanish citizens participating would receive full diplomatic protection.
Sánchez concluded, ‘They present no threat nor danger to Israel.’