A new chapter of civilian defiance is unfolding at sea as the Global Sumud Flotilla prepares its third and largest voyage of 2025 to challenge the blockade on Gaza. Dozens of vessels from more than forty countries are set to sail, carrying activists, public figures, and humanitarian aid in a mission defined by its name, Sumud, meaning steadfastness. Among those joining are high-profile international voices, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, signalling a growing global mobilisation against the siege.

Previous flotillas in June and July were intercepted in international waters, with ships seized and participants detained before being deported. Yet, despite these risks, the determination to reach Gaza remains undiminished. This persistence comes as the territory endures catastrophic hunger, with the United Nations declaring it a famine zone and warning that half a million people face starvation. Since the start of the genocide in October 2023, tens of thousands have been killed and the population continues to suffer mass displacement and destruction.

The flotilla’s mission carries urgent symbolism: it is a direct act of solidarity with those enduring famine, bombardment, and siege, and a call to the international community to act. As Gaza enters its 695th day under extermination, the persistence of ordinary citizens risking their lives at sea underscores both the desperation of the crisis and the refusal of many across the world to remain silent in the face of such overwhelming human suffering.