Overview

• More than 140 artists and public figures, including Angèle, DJ Snake and Léna Situations, signed a tribune urging France and Belgium to grant diplomatic and consular protection to the flotilla.
• The Global Sumud Flotilla counts over 50 boats with hundreds aboard, including 54 French and 15 Belgian nationals, among them journalists, medics, activists and elected officials from over 45 countries.
• Organizers report multiple drone incidents since departure, including two off Tunis on September 9 and another episode off Greece where an activist counted 15 to 16 drones with five boats struck, blaming Israel for the attacks.
• Sixteen countries have extended diplomatic protection to their nationals on the convoy, and Italy plus Spain have dispatched naval vessels to assist if needed.
• French left-wing leaders and unions escalated appeals for immediate protection, a Paris event rallied support and launched a petition, and participants say Greta Thunberg is among prominent figures involved.