BARCELONA (Dispatches) -- An international aid flotilla comprising activists, politicians, and artists from over 44 countries departed Barcelona on Sunday en route to Gaza, aiming to challenge Israel’s blockade of the besieged enclave.
The Global Sumud Flotilla—named after the Arabic term for “steadfastness”—consists of roughly 20 vessels carrying more than 300 participants, including doctors, journalists, and campaigners. 
After leaving Barcelona, the fleet will sail through the Mediterranean, making stops in Italy, Greece, and Tunisia before heading to Gaza.
Barcelona, which severed all official ties with Israel earlier this year citing what it described as genocide in Gaza, served as the symbolic launch point for the mission. 
Notable figures on board include Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, Spanish actor Eduardo Fernandez, and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
Ahead of departure, Thunberg condemned the situation in Gaza as “a clear example of oppression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing,” hitting out at Israel for attempting to “wipe out the Palestinian people.” 
She criticized global silence and inaction, calling on people worldwide to mobilize and demand a humanitarian corridor to Gaza. Thunberg emphasized that the mission is peaceful and humanitarian, adding the flotilla has contingency plans in case of interception by Israeli forces.
Other participants echoed these sentiments. Eduardo Fernandez described Gaza as “a mirror reflecting all of us,” asserting that “silence is complicity” in the face of ongoing violence. 
Liam Cunningham highlighted the international community’s failure to act, urging governments to impose sanctions on Israel. Ada Colau praised the civilian-led mission for forcing institutions to take a stand amid what she called “cowardice” and ongoing violations of international law.
Organizers stressed the mission’s peaceful nature and humanitarian goals, lamenting the lack of action from international institutions. Activists called for immediate sanctions against Israel, pointing to decades of ethnic cleansing since 1948.
The flotilla, flying Palestinian flags, is expected to reach Gaza in mid-September. Additional vessels from Greece, Italy, and Tunisia are set to join the mission on September 4, carrying hundreds of tons of aid, including food collected in Italian ports.
This mission follows previous failed attempts to deliver aid by sea, with Israeli forces intercepting flotillas in June and July. 
The Spanish government has pledged diplomatic support for its citizens aboard the flotilla. Spain recognized Palestine as an independent state last year. 
The flotilla’s organizers describe their effort as the largest civilian solidarity mission in history.