“Don’t look away,” said climate and Palestine activist Greta Thunberg, as she urged support for the 2026 Global Sumud Flotilla, which launches in late March, to break the siege of Gaza.
“We must act because Palestinians are still facing genocide. As war expands, so must our mission. The time calls for organised escalation on every front available to us.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla has announced a combined flotilla and convoy. “What began as separate, civilian-led initiatives has become a global network of thousands who are building collective power across multiple fronts.”
More than 100 boats will sail to Gaza from various ports around the Mediterranean to try and break Israel’s illegal maritime blockade.
The North African Global Sumud Land Convoy will join the humanitarian action to work alongside Palestinians, with hundreds of trucks loaded with food and medical supplies. They aim to mobilise 2000 people to deliver the goods to the Rafah crossing.
There have been repeated attempts since 2010 to deliver aid in flotillas and convoys to Palestinians; all have been intercepted by Israeli military forces.
The Mavi Marmara in 2010 attempted to deliver 10,000 tonnes of aid to Gaza. It was attacked by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and nine flotilla members were killed, with a tenth dying of injuries.
The IDF targeted a World Central Kitchen Aid Convoy in 2024, killing seven, including Australian aid worker Zomi Francom.
Australians joined the Sumud Flotilla last year, which was intercepted by Israel’s navy in international waters, 200 kilometres off Gaza. The crews and captains were arrested, and 223 participants detained in Israel’s Ketziot prison. Many reported they were physically and sexually abused in prison. Australian participants criticised the lack of assistance from foreign minister Penny Wong and the Labor government.
Filmmaker Juliet Lamont, who was brutalised in Israeli detention, is courageously returning to lead the Australian delegation. She is joined by Jewish activist and child of Holocaust survivors Anny Mokotow, Wanjerriburra and Birri Gubba community activist and filmmaker Sam Woripa Watson, author Clementine Ford, climate activist Zach Schofield, Gomeroi and Ngyampaa singer Jayden Kitchener-Waters, storyteller Surya McEwen (participating in his fourth flotilla) and Ethan Floyd, Wiradjuri, Ngiyampaa, and Wailwan student activist.
Schofield said the contingent from Australia to get aid medicine food to Gaza will include up to 30 people. “The United Nations has called it a genocide so civilians from across the world have decided to set sail once again to try to get those critical life-saving supplies to the people of Gaza.”
Schofield said he was not looking forward to a likely confrontation with the IDF. But he does want to take the opportunity to “try and get aid to people who are being starved to death”.
Gaza desperately needs aid, he said, also because in January Israel banned 30 aid organisations, including Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam, from operating in Gaza.
Schofield criticised the Australian government for “choosing Israel’s side” by sending weapons’ parts including critical parts for F35 fighter jets. “About $3 million was spent on a state visit for Isaac Herzog, the Israeli President, and millions of dollars have been spent on police wages to beat up protestors in Sydney who disagreed with that visit.”
Sue Higginson, Greens MLC, has told parliament that “We need to keep all eyes on Gaza and the Australian government must ensure the safe passage of Australians conducting a lawful humanitarian mission to feed children starved by Israel’s genocide in Gaza”.
Sumud participants are calling on supporters of justice for Palestine to pressure the government to facilitate the flotilla’s safe passage and convoy, and to stop enabling atrocities.
UN Special Rappoteur Francesca Albanese said “When perpetrators of genocide face no consequences it emboldens violations, violence and lawlessness everywhere”.
Lamont called on supporters to remain alert. “We can break the illegal siege with your eyes and hearts. Let’s end the atrocities and change history.”
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