A broad coalition of civil society groups is preparing what organisers describe as the largest maritime civilian mobilisation in years, with a fleet expected to head towards Gaza in mid-April. The initiative is framed as a peaceful attempt to confront a long-standing naval siege that has tightened amid a genocidal war, leaving the enclave’s population facing acute shortages and widespread destruction. Participants say the voyage is intended to restore visibility to a humanitarian catastrophe that has been normalised by months of inaction.

According to organisers, vessels will depart from Mediterranean ports in Spain, Italy  and Tunisia, converging into a single civilian fleet as they move eastwards. Along the route, additional delegations are expected to join, turning the passage into a rolling demonstration at sea. The organisers emphasise that the mission is civilian, non-governmental and independent, relying on volunteers rather than state sponsorship or major international organisations.

The ships are expected to carry food, medical supplies and essential equipment, alongside teams of doctors, nurses and technical specialists. Those involved argue that the destruction of hospitals, clinics and basic infrastructure during the genocidal war has made external assistance a matter of urgency rather than charity. Legal observers and researchers are also expected on board to document conditions linked to the siege and its humanitarian impact, particularly restrictions on movement and access to territorial waters.

Organisers describe the voyage as a non-violent assertion of the right to life and dignity under international law. They argue that the blockade, imposed for nearly two decades and intensified during periods of genocidal war, has transformed Gaza into an isolated zone where deprivation is systematic rather than accidental. By taking to the sea, participants say they aim to expose a reality often reduced to statistics and to challenge policies they view as collectively punishing an entire population.