Ships for Gaza 2025

A large white Freedom Flotilla banner is held up infront of one of the ships bound for Gaza supplying them with aid and medical supplies.
Freegazaorg | CC BY-SA 2.0

➡️ THE GAZA FREEDOM FLOTILLAS 2025 – Ships For Gaza

The Gaza Freedom Flotillas are various humanitarian missions to break the inhumane blockade on Gaza and deliver much-needed supplies and medical aid to the region. The 2025 flotilla continues the tradition of peaceful activism and advocating for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.

The Global Sumud Flotilla represents a bold humanitarian effort aimed at delivering aid to Gaza. This initiative is rooted in the spirit of resilience and international solidarity. By organizing and mobilizing resources, the flotilla seeks to break through barriers and offer much-needed relief, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and compassion in addressing humanitarian crises. Through its actions, the Global Sumud Flotilla not only delivers aid but also raises awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by the people of Gaza, urging the global community to engage actively in seeking sustainable solutions.

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The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail in August 2025, is the latest attempt to break the blockade. It is comprised of over 50 civilian vessels, with thousands of participants from more than 44 countries. The boats have already been attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Greece. Spain and Italy have responded with their support by deploying military warships to protect the flotilla.

Israel has labelled the flotilla a mission to serve Hamas and has reportedly asked the activists to hand the aid over to Israel so it can be peacefully transferred to Gaza. After this proposal was rejected, Israel stated it would “take the necessary measures to prevent its entry into the combat zone and to stop any violation of a lawful naval blockade”.

In an earlier attempt, on 2 May 2025, whilst on route to Gaza, the ship 'Conscience' was attacked by two drone strikes in EU waters off the coast of Malta. The strikes caused a fire and a breach in the hull. The ship was carrying 16-30 international human rights activists.

Various leaders and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition have blamed Israel for the attack. The Israeli government has so far failed to comment. The United Nations has urged an emergency independent probe into the attack.

The Maltese government has agreed to assist the ship with repairs so it may continue its journey. Around 40 activists who had hoped to board the vessel are waiting in Malta, including climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The front of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship shows severe structural damage after the reported drone attack.
Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 4.0

The interception of the ship has resulted in international outcry. The situation further strains relations between Israel and several countries, and it has brought the debate over the legality and humanitarian impact of the blockade back into the spotlight.

This is not the first time the flotilla missions have been intercepted. In 2010, there was a deadly raid on six flotilla ships by the Israeli military. The ships were set to deliver 10,000 tonnes of aid to Gaza but were stopped in their tracks by Israeli troops who used substantial force to board the ships, resulting in the death of 9 Turkish activists.

Since 9 October 2023, Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza following the large-scale military attack by Hamas, which resulted in the death of more than 1,000 Israelis. The blockade cut Gaza off from food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity. One year later, the UN found that 83% of aid entering Gaza had been arbitrarily blocked.

As of March 2025, Israel has completely blocked all supplies from entering Gaza - the longest complete closure in the blockade's history. According to UNICEF, more aid workers had been killed in Gaza than in any war since the founding of the UN. The number of aid workers who have lost their lives now stands at 408.

The Freedom Flotillas are symbols of solidarity and hope. They emphasise the importance of international cooperation in addressing humanitarian needs. Their decades-long plight has drawn global attention to the dire situation for civilians in Gaza and the desperate need to end the blockade.

Author: Rachael Mellor, 13.05.25 (Updated 26.09.25) licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

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