Around twenty French boats set sail from Marseille on Saturday, joining a broader international initiative aimed at reaching Gaza and challenging the blockade imposed on the territory. The vessels, most of them small sailing boats, are expected to meet a larger convoy at sea as part of what organisers call the “Global Sumud Flotilla”.

The international fleet is due to gather off the coast of Barcelona before heading towards Gaza later this month. Participants have also planned a stop in southern Italy, where they will undergo training focused on non-violent resistance, emphasising the civilian character of the mission. Organisers present the initiative as both a symbolic act and a direct response to the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing genocidal war and the restrictions placed on the population.

Political figures present at the departure criticised what they described as a lack of effective action from Western governments, arguing that insufficient pressure has been placed on Israeli leadership. They maintain that continued inaction has contributed to worsening conditions in Gaza, where civilians remain under severe constraints amid the ongoing genocidal war.

This mission follows a similar attempt in late 2025, when a flotilla of dozens of boats was intercepted at sea before reaching its destination. That operation, which included well-known international activists, drew condemnation from human rights organisations, who questioned the legality of preventing civilian vessels from accessing Gaza. Despite the earlier setback, organisers insist that such initiatives remain necessary, framing them as part of a wider civilian effort to draw attention to the ongoing siege.