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For a 2nd nighttime successful a row, members of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) accidental their ships person travel nether onslaught portion docked successful Tunisia.
Late connected Tuesday, the Alma, a British-flagged vessel, was deed portion moored disconnected the larboard of Sidi Bou Said, sparking a occurrence that was aboriginal contained. Nobody was injured.
The remnants of the projectile utilized successful Tuesday night’s onslaught connected the Sumud Flotilla [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]The incidental follows Monday night’s strike connected the flotilla’s main ship, the Family Boat, which besides caught occurrence aft being deed by a suspected drone successful the aforesaid port.
The Family Boat – a 23-metre (76ft) Portuguese-flagged vas carrying the flotilla’s steering committee – had six radical connected board.
Video from a adjacent ship, verified by Al Jazeera, appeared to amusement an incendiary instrumentality falling onto the vas earlier an explosion. Passenger Miguel Duarte told Middle East Eye helium saw a drone hovering overhead conscionable earlier the blast.
The Tunisian National Guard dismissed claims of an onslaught arsenic “completely unfounded”, attributing the Family Boat occurrence to a discarded cigarette. The GSF, however, accused Israel, saying the onslaught damaged the ship’s main platform and retention areas, though passengers managed to extinguish the blaze. All unit and activists were reported safe.
Where is the Global Sumud Flotilla now?
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), a conjugation of much than 50 boats seeking to situation Israel’s blockade of Gaza, acceptable sail connected August 31, 2025, and arrived astatine Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said larboard connected September 7. It plans to proceed its travel towards Gaza connected Wednesday.
The flotilla is carrying humanitarian assistance and supplies, and its organisers accidental the ngo is intended to gully planetary attraction to the ongoing blockade.
Which countries bash the flotilla delegates travel from?
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, delegations from 44 countries person committed to sail to Gaza arsenic portion of the largest maritime ngo to interruption Israel’s amerciable siege.
According to the group, participants are unaffiliated with immoderate authorities oregon governmental party.
Flotillas trying to interruption Israel’s siege of Gaza
Several flotilla vessels person attempted to interruption Israel’s blockade of Gaza successful the past.
In 2008, 2 boats from the Free Gaza Movement successfully reached Gaza, marking the archetypal interruption of Israel’s naval blockade. The movement, founded successful 2006 by activists during Israel’s warfare connected Lebanon, went connected to motorboat 31 boats betwixt 2008 and 2016, 5 of which reached Gaza, contempt dense Israeli restrictions.
Since 2010, each flotillas attempting to interruption the Gaza blockade person been intercepted oregon attacked by Israel successful planetary waters.
The representation beneath shows the approximate locations wherever salient flotillas were stopped, immoderate encountering deadly Israeli forces.
2010 – Gaza Freedom Flotilla
In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara successful planetary waters. The battle killed 10 activists and injured dozens, starring to planetary outrage. The vessel was carrying humanitarian assistance and much than 600 passengers.
The Mavi Marmara was owned and tally by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, oregon IHH, a Turkish NGO. The incidental severely strained Israel-Turkiye relations and drew wide condemnation for violating planetary law.
In 2013, Israel apologised for “operational mistakes” successful the raid. A compensation woody is inactive being negotiated betwixt the 2 countries. Israeli soldiers and officials who took portion successful the onslaught are being tried successful absentia successful Turkiye for warfare crimes.
2011 – Freedom Flotilla II
Freedom Flotilla II was launched successful 2011 arsenic a follow-up to the 2010 mission. Organised by a conjugation of planetary activists and NGOs, it aimed to interruption Israel’s blockade connected Gaza and present humanitarian aid. The flotilla progressive much than 300 participants from astir the satellite and was acceptable to sail connected 10 vessels.
However, aggravated diplomatic unit from Israel, coupled with reported sabotage of ships and restrictions by big countries similar Greece, prevented astir boats from departing.
Only the Dignite-Al Karama came adjacent to reaching Gaza. The 17-passenger French vas initially declared an Egyptian larboard arsenic its destination upon leaving Greek waters, but activists aboriginal announced they were heading for Gaza. Israeli naval commandos intercepted the vessel and towed it to Ashdod. The activists were detained for questioning and aboriginal deported.
2015 – Freedom Flotilla III
Freedom Flotilla III was launched successful 2015 arsenic the 3rd large effort by planetary activists to interruption Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the mission included respective vessels, with the Swedish-flagged Marianne of Gothenburg starring the effort.
On June 29, 2015, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Marianne astir 100 nautical miles (185km) disconnected the Gaza coast, successful planetary waters. Commandos boarded the vessel and diverted it to Ashdod. The activists connected committee were detained and aboriginal deported, with immoderate unit members released aft six days.
Activists connected committee Thales of Miletus, a vessel from the 3rd Gaza Freedom Flotilla, sailing successful the Mediterranean backmost to Greece aft departing from the Israeli larboard of Ashdod, wherever the flotilla was forced to onshore by Israeli forces [File: Getty Images]2018 – Just Future for Palestine
The Just Future for Palestine Flotilla – besides known arsenic the 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla – was portion of a continued effort by the FFC to situation Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The run included 2 main vessels, Al Awda (The Return) and Freedom, on with 2 enactment yachts, Mairead and Falestine.
On July 29 and August 3, 2018, some Al Awda and Freedom were intercepted and seized by the Israeli navy successful planetary waters. All connected committee were arrested, with immoderate reporting being Tasered, assaulted, oregon beaten by Israeli forces.
Most participants were held successful detention earlier being deported to their respective countries.
2025 – Break the Siege ‘Conscience’
While preparing to sail to Gaza connected May 2, the Conscience was struck doubly by equipped drones, conscionable 14 nautical miles (26km) disconnected the seashore of Malta. The onslaught triggered a occurrence and caused a important breach successful the hull, forcing the 30 Turkish and Azeri activists connected committee into a hopeless effort to bale retired h2o and support the vessel afloat.
Four radical sustained insignificant injuries successful the assault, including burns and lacerations.
2025 – Madleen
Despite the onslaught connected the Conscience, the Madleen departed Sicily connected June 1, carrying nutrient and medicine. On July 7, the vessel was intercepted by Israeli naval forces 100 nautical miles (185km) disconnected Gaza successful planetary waters. Twelve unit members were detained, including clime activistic Greta Thunberg, MEP Rima Hassan, and Al Jazeera writer Omar Faiad. The vessel was towed to Ashdod, 30km (19 miles) northbound of Gaza, wherever the activists were held earlier being deported.
2025 – Handala
On July 27, 2025, the activistic vas Handala – named aft the iconic Palestinian cartoon fig symbolising absorption – was seized by Israeli naval forces successful planetary waters, astir 50 nautical miles (90km) from Gaza.
On committee were 19 unarmed activists and journalists from assorted countries, including 2 French members of parliament and 2 Al Jazeera reporters. The FFC condemned the enactment arsenic a convulsive interception successful usurpation of planetary maritime law, emphasising the non-military quality of their ngo and the intended assistance delivery.
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