International Flotilla Soumoud Sets Sail for Gaza, Determined to Break Israeli Blockade
The militants of the International Flotilla Soumoud are currently en route to Gaza, determined to break the Israeli blockade that has been suffocating the coastal strip for nearly two decades. Since Saturday, September 13, 2025, the ships of the Soumoud Flotilla have been gradually departing from the ports of Bizerte, Gammarth, and Sidi Bou Saïd to break the blockade on Gaza.
Departure of Ships from Tunisian Ports
In total, as of yesterday morning, 18 ships had left the Tunisian coast. From the marina of Bizerte, 14 boats set sail for the Gaza Strip. The "Soltana" was the last boat to leave this port yesterday afternoon, carrying Algerian and South African militants on board, bound for Gaza. Earlier in the day, the boats "Alma" and "Family" had already set sail from the same port. Two other boats initially planned to join the flotilla but were unable to do so due to technical problems. In parallel, four ships left the port of Gammarth on the same day.
Regrouping of Ships in International Waters
The flotilla confirmed that the ships have begun to regroup in international waters after leaving Tunisian ports. The Spanish and Tunisian boats are expected to join those from Italy and Greece in international waters to continue their journey to Gaza together. Meanwhile, other boats have set sail from Italy and Greece. According to the organizers, the crossing could take between seven and ten days, depending on sea conditions and any obstacles encountered along the way.
Participants from Around the World
The Soumoud Flotilla consists of more than 40 ships, carrying participants from Tunisia and the Maghreb, as well as militants from several European countries, Latin America, the United States, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, South Africa, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Hostility and Media Silence
While the initiative mobilizes hundreds of volunteers and attracts the attention of civil society, it is facing growing hostility in some European countries and a heavy media silence. Fear seems to have changed sides. Otherwise, how can we explain the attempts at boycott, the complacent silence of some Western media, and especially the hostility towards pro-Palestinian militants in states that claim to be defenders of human rights and peoples.
The Immortal Message of Nelson Mandela
The presence of Mandla Mandela, Nelson Mandela's grandson, marked the spirits in Sidi Bou Saïd. In front of the Tunisian media, he recalled his grandfather's words during his visit to Gaza in 1995: "Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinian people." He added, "We have become this generation that has taken up the torch. We call on all those who are taking to the sea on board the Soumoud flotilla to ensure that the blockade and siege come to an end. Even those who remain on land can participate, using electronic intifada to spread this message on a large scale."
International Solidarity
Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, arrested in June in the occupied territories on board the Madleen, also spoke from the Tunisian port, addressing a message to the peoples of North Africa: "The struggle for Palestine is a common cause. This fight is a collective effort that we must undertake." He recalled that this international mobilization responds to a clear call from the Palestinian people for global solidarity.
A Long Tradition of Solidarity between Tunisia and Palestine
Among the members of the current flotilla are French actress Adèle Haenel and Franco-Palestinian MP Rima Hassan. The two addressed a video message to the participants of the Fête de l'Humanité, organized on September 14 in France from the port of Sidi Bou Saïd. For Rima Hassan, this participation in a second flotilla is part of a continuity of activism: "We were vulnerable last June on a single boat (Madleen), but it is our duty, as citizens and political leaders, to participate in concrete actions of solidarity. We cannot do everything from an office. Being physically present on the boats is a way to bring protection, mobilization, and visibility to this cause."
The Importance of Collective Action
Rima Hassan also evoked her own family history, marked by exile in 1948, and the long tradition of solidarity and love between Tunisia and Palestine. "During a previous arrest, an Israeli judge told us: 'You will be banned from entry for a hundred years.' We replied: 'Your state will not last a hundred years.'" French actress Adèle Haenel, in an interview with Franceinfo, highlighted the pacifist nature of the flotilla, facing unbearable images from Gaza. She denounces the inaction of Western governments and insists on the collective scope of the initiative, emphasizing that "the people who have come together here have done so in an ideal of human dignity."
A Clear Message to the World
Zaher Birawi, a Palestinian-British journalist and president of the International Committee for the Lift of the Blockade, recalled that this initiative is part of popular actions aimed at ending the occupation and Zionist crimes. According to him, the flotilla sends a clear message: the peoples of the world are united in their rejection of injustice.
Intellectuals and Artists Speak Out
From the ports of Tunis, several Tunisian figures expressed their support. Actor Mohamed Mourad saluted the political awareness and mobilization of Tunisian and Arab youth: "Each person is free to their convictions, but I ask those who are hesitant not to minimize our efforts. We are more than 800, and this time, we will not back down." Singer Mounir Troudi regretted the absence of many Tunisian artists, explaining that they are often available for performances abroad but absent when it comes to supporting a major humanitarian cause.
The Silence of Some Intellectuals
It is true that the silence of some intellectuals is puzzling. While the world is witnessing a genocide in Gaza, many choose not to express themselves, even on social media. This attitude raises questions about the universality of the principles they claim to defend. Of course, everyone is free to their opinions. But when a people are suffering massacres, famine, and deportation, silence becomes a form of complicity. And indifference, a renunciation of humanity.
