About 20 French sailboats departed Marseille to join the "Global Sumud Flotilla," an international convoy aiming to deliver aid to Gaza and challenge the Israeli blockade. Organisers say roughly 100 boats will assemble — mainly from Barcelona — and plan a week-long stop in southern Italy for non-violence training. A similar flotilla in late 2025 was boarded by the Israeli navy; participants were arrested and expelled. The flotilla seeks to raise international visibility for Palestine amid an ongoing, contested ceasefire.
French Sailboats Depart Marseille to Join International Gaza Aid Flotilla
The French boats will join others to head to Gaza in the hope of breaking the Israeli blockade (CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU)(CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP/AFP)
About 20 French vessels — mostly sailboats — left Marseille on Saturday to link up with an international convoy attempting to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, AFP reporters observed.
Around a thousand supporters gathered at the docks, chanting "Gaza, Marseille is with you" as the boats slipped away shortly after 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) amid applause and song. The French boats are joining the "Global Sumud Flotilla," named in honor of a Gazan fisherman.
Organisers say the wider international flotilla includes roughly 100 boats, the majority departing from Barcelona on April 12. The group plans to head toward Gaza around April 20, with a week-long stopover in southern Italy for what organisers describe as "non-violence training."
"The aim is to raise Palestine's visibility. We're not talking about it much now because of the international context," said Manon, a crew member who declined to give her full name.
Previous Flotilla and Political Context
An earlier flotilla in late 2025, of roughly 50 boats that included political figures and activists such as Sweden's Greta Thunberg, was boarded by the Israeli navy. Organisers and Amnesty International condemned that boarding as illegal; those on board were arrested and later expelled by Israel.
The Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, has been subject to an Israeli blockade since 2007. Israel and Hamas accused each other of violating a ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, 2025, following two years of war.
Note: Organisers say the current mission is aimed at drawing international attention to the humanitarian situation and at promoting non-violent action; authorities and the flotilla's planners have previously warned of the risks involved in attempting to breach the blockade.
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