Global Sumud Flotilla launches Spring Mission.A large pro-Palestinian flotilla departed from Sicily on Sunday as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla's 2026 Spring Mission, with the stated aim of breaking Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the territory's residents.The vessels had originally departed from Barcelona on 12 April, after being delayed by stormy weather, arriving in Sicily late last week. The 39 Spanish boats were joined by 25 Italian vessels, with a total of around 1,000 activists aboard, which organisers say makes it the largest pro-Palestinian activist flotilla of its kind. Organisers have said they hope to reach Gaza around the beginning of May, though the prospect of success appears remote as Israel does not permit any unauthorised vessel to approach the coast of the enclave. This marks the flotilla's second mission, following a previous attempt last autumn which ended when Israeli forces intercepted the vessels while they were sailing in international waters and detained hundreds of activists on board before deporting them. Since 2009, Israel has maintained a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, leading to a series of high-profile maritime confrontations. The most significant of these occurred in 2010, when Israeli commandos raided the six-ship Gaza Freedom Flotilla, resulting in 10 deaths and dozens of injuries, sparking a wave of global condemnation. In the years following - specifically in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2025 - subsequent attempts to reach Gaza were similarly intercepted, raided or blocked by Israeli forces. Alongside the current maritime action, a land convoy is set to approach Gaza from North Africa, with around 1,000 people expected to join the North African Sumud Land Convoy on a journey anticipated to last around three weeks. Photo credit: Tricani Alessio / Shutterstock.com

A large pro-Palestinian flotilla departed from Sicily on Sunday as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla's 2026 Spring Mission, with the stated aim of breaking Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the territory's residents. The vessels had originally departed from Barcelona on 12 April, after being delayed by stormy weather, arriving in Sicily late last week. The 39 Spanish boats were joined by 25 Italian vessels, with a total of around 1,000 activists aboard, which organisers say makes it the largest pro-Palestinian activist flotilla of its kind. Organisers have said they hope to reach Gaza around the beginning of May, though the prospect of success appears remote as Israel does not permit any unauthorised vessel to approach the coast of the enclave. This marks the flotilla's second mission, following  last autumn which ended when Israeli forces intercepted the vessels while they were sailing in international waters and detained hundreds of activists on board before deporting them. Since 2009, Israel has maintained a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, leading to a series of high-profile maritime confrontations. The most significant of these occurred in 2010, when Israeli commandos raided the six-ship Gaza Freedom Flotilla, resulting in 10 deaths and dozens of injuries, sparking a wave of global condemnation. In the years following - specifically in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2025 - subsequent attempts to reach Gaza were similarly intercepted, raided or blocked by Israeli forces. Alongside the current maritime action, a land convoy is set to approach Gaza from North Africa, with around 1,000 people expected to join the North African Sumud Land Convoy on a journey anticipated to last around three weeks. Photo credit: Tricani Alessio / Shutterstock.com