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Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Humanitarian aid convoys to Palestine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Gaza Freedom Flotilla vessels and convoys have attempted to break the blockade of Gaza since 2010. The first flotilla with six ships was launched and subsequently raided by Israeli forces, by what would then become the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Since 2010, attempts from the Freedom Flotilla II in 2011, Freedom Flotilla III in 2015, Women's Boat to Gaza in 2016, Just Future for Palestine Flotilla in 2018, and flotillas in June and July 2025, have all been intercepted, raided or attacked by Israeli forces.
In August 2025, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, and began launching a series of flotilla convoys towards Gaza.
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Background
In 2008, the first ships to breach the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip were launched by the Free Gaza Movement. Founded during the 2006 Lebanon War, activists launched 31 boats from 2008–2016, with five that succeeded in reaching Gaza.[1]
Timeline
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2010
The 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was a small fleet of ships by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (İHH) carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials with the intention of breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.[2][3][4] In typical circumstances, aid is first brought to Israel to be inspected and then transferred to Gaza.[5]
On 31 May 2010, Israeli forces boarded the ships in a raid from speedboats and helicopters. Following resistance on one of the boats, nine activists were killed by Israeli forces. Widespread international condemnation of and reaction to the raid followed, Israel–Turkey relations were strained, and Israel subsequently eased its blockade on the Gaza Strip.Raid
Six civilian ships of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla were raided by Israel on 31 May 2010 in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea. Nine of the flotilla passengers were killed during the raid, with 30 wounded (including one who later died of his wounds).[6][7] Ten Israeli soldiers were wounded, one seriously. The exact sequence of events is contested, in part due to the IDF's confiscation of the passengers' photographic evidence.[8] The flotilla, organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (İHH), was carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials, intending to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Navy warned the flotilla via radio to stop approaching the naval blockade and to change course to the port of Ashdod. This request was denied and on 31 May 2010, Israeli Shayetet 13 naval commandos boarded the ships in international waters from speedboats[9] and helicopters. Aboard the Turkish ship MV Mavi Marmara, the Israeli Navy faced resistance from about 40 of the 590 passengers, including IHH activists[10] who were said to be armed with iron bars and knives.[11] During the struggle, nine activists were killed, including eight Turkish nationals and one Turkish American, and many were wounded.[12] On 23 May 2014, a tenth member of the flotilla died in hospital after being in a coma for four years.[13] Ten of the commandos were also wounded, one of them seriously.[11][14]
According to a United Nations Human Rights Council report, all activist deaths were caused by gunshots, and "the circumstances of the killing of at least six of the passengers were in a manner consistent with an extra-legal, arbitrary and summary execution."[15] The five other ships in the flotilla employed passive resistance, which was suppressed without major incident. According to the UNHRC report, several of the passengers were injured and the leg of one was fractured.[15] The ships were towed to Israel. Some passengers were deported immediately, while about 600 were detained after they refused to sign deportation orders; a few of them were slated for prosecution. After international criticism, all of the detained activists were also deported.[16][17]
The raid drew widespread condemnation internationally and resulted in a deterioration of Israel–Turkey relations. Israel subsequently eased its blockade on the Gaza Strip. All surviving activists were freed, though only the Turkish and Greek ships were returned. Israel confiscated and continued to hold the other ships, as well as most of the property (including all media recordings) of over 700 passengers, as of June 2010[update].[18]
There were several probes into the incident. A UNHRC report in September 2010 into the incident deemed the blockade illegal and stated that Israel's actions were "disproportionate" and "betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality", with evidence of "wilful killing". United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced a parallel probe in August 2010 by a four-member panel headed by Geoffrey Palmer. The Palmer report was published on 2 September 2011 after being delayed, reportedly to allow Israel and Turkey to continue reconciliation talks. The report found that the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza was legal, and that there were "serious questions about the conduct, true nature and objectives of the flotilla organizers, particularly IHH".[19][20] The report also found that the degree of force used against the Mavi Marmara was "excessive and unreasonable",[21] and that the way Israel treated detained crew members violated international human rights law.[21]
Israel has offered Turkey $20 million in compensation for the raid.[22] On 22 March 2013, in a half-hour telephone exchange between Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the former apologized on behalf of his nation; Erdoğan accepted the apology and both agreed to enter into further discussions.[23][24] On 29 June 2016, the agreement was finalized and approved by the Israeli government.[25]2011
"Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human"[26] was a flotilla that planned to break the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel by sailing to Gaza on 5 July 2011. Ultimately, the sailing did not take place.[27]
The flotilla was organized by a coalition of 22 NGOs. Its name refers to the May 2010 sailing of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which had been raided by Israeli forces, killing a number of activists. Their stated goal was to end the blockade of Gaza "completely and permanently".[28] Initially, 10 ships, with 1,000 activists[29] were set to sail for Gaza, but by 28 June 2011, the number of expected participants had decreased to fewer than 300, plus a few dozen journalists, and by 7 July all but a few dozen activists had returned home.[30][31]
The flotilla was publicly opposed by the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Canada, the Middle East Quartet (consisting of the EU, Russia, the United Nations, and the United States), and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. It was publicly supported by Hamas.[32]
Activists on two ships, one in Greece and one in Turkey, found similar damage to their propeller shafts, and claimed that the ships had been sabotaged by Israel.[33] It was reported that the investigation by Turkish authorities on one of the ships determined that there may have been no sabotage at all, and that any damage happened before the boat arrived in Turkey, but these media reports appeared prior to the formal investigation beginning and the Turkish coastguard enquiry has yet to announce its findings. The media reports were disputed by Irish Ship to Gaza, the owner of the vessel.[34][35][36] Greece forbade the vessels from leaving its ports, citing safety concerns,[37] but offered to instead send any humanitarian aid to Gaza in its own vessels, under United Nations supervision. Greece's offer was supported by Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the United Nations, but rejected by the flotilla activists.[38][39] Subsequently, two flotilla ships, the Audacity of Hope and Tahrir, disobeyed Greece's orders. They were intercepted by the Greek coast guard, brought back to shore, and a few activists were arrested. Activists responded by occupying the Spanish embassy in Athens.[40]
Only the French ship Dignité Al Karama managed to approach Gaza. They advised the Greek authorities that their destination was the Egyptian port of Alexandria,[41] and then turned toward Gaza.[42] On 19 July, the ship was intercepted and boarded without incident by Israeli commandos and escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod.[43]2015
Freedom Flotilla III (#FF3) was a flotilla that planned to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel by sailing to Gaza. It started from Sweden on 10 May 2015 and stopped in several European cities along the way to Gaza. It started officially from Athens, Greece on 25 June 2015.[44] Few details were released in advance.[45]
On 29 June 2015 the Swedish-flagged vessel "Marianne" was intercepted by the Israeli navy[46] in international waters about 100 nautical miles from the Palestinian coast of Gaza. The Israeli military reported that no force was needed during the operation. However, eye-witness video published by Israeli Channel 2 TV shows people being tasered by IDF commandos.[47] The Marianne was boarded by Israeli forces and taken to the port of Ashdod, while the rest of the ships turned back.[48]
Organizers of the flotilla have repeatedly stated the boat was carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza. According to Israel's defense minister Moshe Yaalon "there was no aid on board". The activists supplied a picture with two boxes containing a single solar panel and a nebulizer and added that the boat was to be donated to Gazan fishermen.[49]
On 30 June 2015, Israel began releasing some detainees. Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki was deported to Paris, France, while Member of European Parliament Ana Miranda from Galicia was deported to Spain. Arab Member of the Israeli Knesset Basel Ghattas, and Israeli journalist Ohad Chamo, were released.[50] Two Canadians and a Norwegian sailor were deported on July 2.[51] A Russian journalist and six Swedish participants remained in prison until July 6.[52]2016
The Women's Boat to Gaza (WBG) was an initiative by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in 2016 to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.[53][54] The WBG consisted of an entirely female crew and one ship, Zaytouna-Oliva. It started from Barcelona on 14 September 2016 and visited Ajaccio, Corsica and Messina, Sicily along the way.[55] On 5 October 2016, the Israeli Navy intercepted the Women's Boat to Gaza some 14 miles outside the 20-mile "Security Zone" off the Palestinian coast,[56] and detained its crew members, who were taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The activists were subsequently deported to their home countries.[57][58][59][56]
2018
The Just Future for Palestine Flotilla, JFP Flotilla or 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was a further 2018 campaign by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to challenge the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. The flotilla consisted of two ships Al Awda (The Return) and Freedom and two yachts Mairead and Falestine. On 29 July and 3 August 2018, both ships Al Awda and Freedom were boarded and seized by the Israeli Navy. All personnel were arrested, while some reported being tasered, attacked and beaten by Israeli military personnel. Most of the participants were detained by the Israeli authorities and subsequently deported to their home countries.[60][61][62]
2024
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The 2024 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was an international humanitarian relief effort organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
2025
May
In the early morning on 2 May 2025, a vessel organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, carrying 16 to 30[a] human rights activists and humanitarian aid destined for the Gaza Strip, was attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta. The incident occurred approximately 14–17 nautical miles (26–31 km) from Malta, outside its territorial waters.[64][65][66] There is no independent confirmation of the nature of the incident,[67] although Cyprus responded by dispatching a rescue boat, and the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) sent a patrol boat to assist with extinguishing the fire.[64][68][69][70]
Maltese authorities offered assistance, but insisted on inspecting the vessel first. The captain declined the offer.[71]June
The June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was an aid vessel organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) with the intention of breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and delivering aid in response to the famine and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.[72] The vessel, Madleen, departed from Catania, Sicily, on 1 June 2025 and contained baby formula, 100 kg (220 lb) of flour, 250 kg (550 lb) of rice, diapers, medical kits, and crutches. In the early hours of 9 June, Israeli forces intercepted, attacked with a chemical spray, boarded, and seized the Madleen in international waters[b], preventing it from reaching the Gaza Strip, and transported the twelve people on board to detention in Israel.[73] The people onboard included Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan. The detained crew members were later deported from Israel.
July
The July 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla was a civilian maritime mission organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. The ship Handala departed from Syracuse, Italy, on 13 July 2025, carrying a diverse group of activists, medics, lawyers, journalists, and humanitarian supplies.[74][75][76][77] It made a stop in Gallipoli between 15 and 20 July, before heading to Gaza.[78][79] Its entry in the Gaza territorial waters, initially estimated between 27 and 28 July,[80] was expected for the early hours of 27 July.[81] Israel boarded and seized the ship in international waters in the late hours of 26 July, before it could reach its destination, and arrested the members of the crew.
August
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF; Arabic: أسطول الصمود العالمي, romanized: Usṭūl aṣ-Ṣumūd al-ʿĀlamī) is an international, civil society-led maritime initiative launched in mid-2025, aiming to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. It is named from ṣumūd, Arabic for 'steadfastness' or 'resilience'.[82] The initiative emerged in July 2025, amid the Gaza genocide, organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Global Movement to Gaza, and Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, among others. The flotilla comprises over 50 vessels with thousands of participants from more than 44 countries. Previous attempts to break the Israeli blockade have been successful, but since 2010 ships have been intercepted by Israeli forces, most recently in June and July 2025.
The flotilla began to set sail late August 2025 with delegations and convoys departing from Malaysia, Genoa, and Barcelona, followed by Catania, Syros, and Tunis early September. Some convoys initially faced temporary stoppages and delayed departures. The Spanish contingent temporarily returned to port due to high winds and the Malaysian convoy was temporarily delayed due to a significant storm. On 3 September, the Italian convoy reached Sicily as it awaits for the Catania convoy to arrive, and Tunisian vessels begun converging on Tunis. On 7 September, part of the Spanish convoy arrived in northern Tunisia.
Certain convoys have received support from Italian politicians and political parties, MPs in Spain and Portugal, and the President of Colombia Gustavo Petro. In contrast, Israeli minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir has claimed that participants should be imprisoned as terrorists and the Israeli Navy has conducted maritime drills.Remove ads
See also
- Ship to Gaza (Sweden), Swedish organization co-founder of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition
- Jewish Boat to Gaza (2010)
- Road to Hope (2010)
Notes
- The exact number of people aboard the Conscience during the Gaza Freedom Flotilla incident on 2 May 2025, is disputed. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage, stated there were 30 people on board, mostly human rights activists and humanitarian workers. The Maltese government and several news agencies reported 16 people on board: 12 crew members and 4 civilian passengers.[63]
- In this article, as well as in most of the sources referenced in this article, the term "international waters" is intended to mean 'non-territorial waters'. The waters where the incident took place are part of an exclusive economic zone which allows the country that owns the zone to exploit the resources within the waters, but no country may prohibit free passage upon those waters.
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References
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