Global Sumud Flotilla regroups in Tunisia after drone encounter, storm delay

The Global Sumud Flotilla, a maritime initiative aiming to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, has begun regrouping in Tunisia following a series of delays and heightened surveillance incidents.

The flotilla, which set sail from Spain earlier this week, made an unscheduled stop in Menorca due to severe weather and has since reported being approached by unidentified drones, raising concerns among organizers, Caliber.Az reports, citing Palestinian media.

According to a statement posted on X, the flotilla “made a refueling and safety stop in Menorca” on September 3 after enduring heavy storms. “Crews are ensuring well-being before continuing toward Gaza,” the coalition said.

Participants have now begun gathering in Tunisian waters, where vessels originating from Spain will link up with additional ships departing from Tunisia before proceeding toward the Gaza Strip. The flotilla carries humanitarian aid and is composed of nearly 1,000 activists from 44 countries, unified in their mission to challenge what they describe as an illegal and inhumane blockade.

Tensions heightened in the night of September 2 when multiple drones were observed circling the flotilla. One of the organizers described the event as “a likely combination of psychological intimidation and intel gathering.”

Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, who was aboard the vessel Familia, detailed the incident on Instagram and in an interview. “We know that (for) a mission like ours, spotting drones is an alert situation because four months ago our boat was bombed by two Israeli drones,” he stated.

Ávila confirmed that “all security protocols” were immediately activated. “While seeing drones of unknown origin fly above our heads is certainly unsettling and activated safety protocols, it’s important that I point out that in Gaza Palestinians are living under 24/7 weaponized Israeli drones hovering above them.”

He further questioned the motivations behind the surveillance: “Who exactly is paying for these drones?” he asked. “And why is our humanitarian mission so intimidating that they feel the need to do this?”

Ávila, a member of the mission’s steering committee, was also on board the Madleen—a boat intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters in June. All 12 activists aboard were forcibly taken to Israel, detained, interrogated, and later deported. In a separate incident in early May, another humanitarian ship was reportedly attacked by Israeli drones in international waters near Malta.

The current voyage is the latest in a series of international efforts to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, which activists and human rights groups have long condemned as a violation of international law.

“The Global Sumud Flotilla is, in fact, a continuation of earlier attempts that began with the Mavi Marmara, followed by the Madleen and Hanzala ships,” said Aycin Kantoglu, a member of the Turkish delegation. “This time, nearly 1,000 activists from 44 countries are attempting once again to break the blockade.”

Kantoglu emphasized the historic scale of the mission: “I believe this will go down in history as the first time in the world that nearly 1,000 activists from dozens of countries have come together to form a flotilla at sea.”

“From the perspective of civil activism, it is an honor to take part,” she added. “We are here to do our part to restore human dignity.”

By Vafa Guliyeva