Overview

• The Global Sumud Flotilla began sailing on August 31, with initial departures from Italy and Spain and additional boats expected to leave Tunisia, Sicily and Greece on September 4–5.
• Organizers say the operation will field roughly 40–50 small sailboats, including about 25 from Italy, after rapidly buying and refitting used vessels with cameras and Starlink connectivity.
• They report about €350,000 in donations and plan to deliver around 300 tonnes of food and medical supplies to Gaza.
• Prominent participants include Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, and crews underwent nonviolence training and received legal support contacts before departure.
• The flotilla expects Israeli naval orders to halt and possible seizures, citing recent interceptions of earlier missions and a reported drone strike that damaged a vessel near Malta.