‘Governments continue to fail’: Freedom Flotilla sails again, vowing to challenge Israel’s Gaza blockade
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has announced a new international effort to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, with ships sailing between European ports before a planned attempt to reach the besieged Palestinian territory in October.
The FFC said its latest mission would go ahead despite the violence and torture meted out to flotilla volunteers on previous attempts, including severe beatings, repeated tasering and sexual assault.
The coalition also accused Israel of blocking the entry of food, medicine and fuel into Gaza, saying the humanitarian situation required renewed international action.
“The Freedom Flotilla sails again because our governments continue to fail to uphold their obligations,” said Zohar Chamberlain Regev, a FFC steering committee member.
“At every port, we will carry the demand that Palestinians be free to live with dignity. In October, we intend to carry that demand and the solidarity of people around the world to Gaza’s shores,” Regev said.
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Two ships have already made the port-to-port trip, the FFC said, adding that Handala II had visited Norway, Sweden and Denmark in June and July.
The vessel Kate left Bristol in the UK earlier this month and has since stopped in Ireland, Germany and France, the coalition said.
The flotilla is to call at Spain, Portugal and Italy before heading for Gaza.
The coalition says the mission includes human rights advocates, trade union activists, elected representatives, journalists, medical professionals and other Palestinian rights supporters.
As per the statement, public events and meetings with local communities will be held in each port.
Serious risks
The coalition has urged governments to halt shipments of weapons and energy to Israel, end diplomatic and military cooperation and impose sanctions while providing safe passage to humanitarian aid.
The FFC said governments should insist on safe, unimpeded passage for the flotilla and make it clear that any attack, seizure, diversion or illegal arrest of its vessels would have diplomatic consequences.
The coalition also demanded free access to Gaza and an end to what it called Israel’s blockade of food, water, medicine and other essentials.
“We know that sailing toward Gaza carries serious risks,” said Edward Digilio, an engineer from Maryland in the US, who is participating in the mission.
“But silence and inaction carry a much greater cost for Palestinians and the world. This mission is an expression of shared humanity and a refusal to accept the destruction of an entire people as normal,” Digilio said.
Israeli forces have intercepted previous attempts by international activists to sail to Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition came into being out of the Free Gaza Movement, with ships sailing to Gaza in 2008.
In 2010, Israeli forces stormed the Mavi Marmara, killing 10 activists on board the vessel.
Humiliation and abuse
Activists have also accused Israel of abduction, torture and sexual abuse during recent interceptions.
In April, Israeli naval forces raided Gaza-bound aid vessels in international waters hundreds of nautical miles from the besieged enclave.
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission, which launched in 2025 in response to Israel's genocide and aid blockade in Gaza, at least 15 boats were raided, with those on board “abducted” by Israeli forces.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said various vessels were “systematically disabled” after being raided, leaving activists stranded at sea.
In June, British participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla told Middle East Eye that they were detained in international waters and subjected to beatings, sexual humiliation, tasering and other forms of abuse after their boats were intercepted by Israeli forces.
The activists said they were transported on what they called “prison ships” to Israel, and accused the UK government of failing to adequately support them while they were in custody.
The coalition’s latest mission comes as Gaza continues to bear the strain of a difficult humanitarian situation despite a ceasefire declared in October 2025.
The FFC says its October voyage aims to create international pressure for unrestricted access to Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade.
Throughout the voyage, organisers stated that they would continue to call on governments to uphold freedom of navigation and to take action against any attempt to intercept or detain the vessels.
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