Sumud Flotilla to Sail from Turkey in Bid to Break Israeli Blockade on Gaza

An international flotilla carrying over 500 activists is set to depart from Turkey on Thursday in a renewed attempt to defy Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, despite prior interceptions and ongoing threats. Organizers of the Global Resilience Flotilla announced in Marmaris, southwestern Turkey, that 54 ships will sail toward Gaza, including five vessels affiliated with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Speaking at a press conference, flotilla members said the mission reflects continued international efforts to break the blockade, stressing their determination to proceed despite Israeli warnings. Tomorrow, our nonviolent mission continues by sea to break the illegal siege and to deliver urgently needed aid. Soon our convoy will be arriving to challenge the israeli regime’s illegal blockade by land.By land. By sea. In the streets.It’s time to dismantle every system… pic.twitter.com/LKlucvm75k— Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) May 13, 2026 Palestinian-Spanish activist Saif Abu Kishk said participants moved forward after years of developments in Palestine, accusing the Zionist entity of violating international law and enforcing what he described as a policy of “slow genocide” in Gaza through starvation, alongside broader displacement efforts in the West Bank. The planned voyage follows a recent Israeli interception on April 29, when occupation forces attacked flotilla vessels in international waters near Crete. Israeli authorities detained 21 boats carrying around 175 activists, while others diverted toward Greek waters. The initiative is part of ongoing global campaigns to end the Israeli blockade on Gaza imposed since 2007, amid worsening humanitarian conditions that have sharply deteriorated during the ongoing Israeli war, which has killed tens of thousands, devastated infrastructure and displaced around 1.5 million Palestinians within the enclave.