Thousands worldwide demand justice after Israeli navy halts 41 aid ships bound for Gaza
Protests have broken out across Europe, Asia, and the Americas in response to Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of 41 ships carrying more than 400 people, including politicians, activists, and climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. The flotilla set sail from Barcelona with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the United Nations reports famine conditions after nearly two years of war.
On Wednesday, the Israeli navy blocked the ships, preventing them from reaching the coastal territory. Among those stopped was a boat carrying former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela. Both now face deportation.
Worldwide Outcry
From Dublin to Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Istanbul, and Buenos Aires, demonstrators filled the streets to denounce Israel’s blockade and call for stronger sanctions.
- In Dublin, hundreds gathered outside parliament. Miriam McNally, whose daughter was aboard the flotilla, said: “I am worried sick for my daughter, but so proud. She is standing up for humanity in the face of grave danger.”
- In Barcelona, 15,000 marched, chanting “Gaza, you are not alone” and “Freedom for Palestine.” Riot police clashed with protesters attempting to breach barriers.
- In Paris and Marseille, hundreds rallied, with French police arresting dozens who tried to block the offices of weapons manufacturer Eurolinks, accused of selling arms to Israel.
- In Italy, unions called a general strike, and thousands demonstrated in Rome, Milan, Torino, and Florence. Protesters at the Colosseum vowed: “We are prepared to block everything. The genocidal machine must stop immediately.”
- In Turkey, marchers headed to the Israeli embassy in Istanbul, demanding a total embargo and release of flotilla members.
Global Solidarity
Protests also surged in Geneva, Athens, Brussels, Tunis, Kuala Lumpur, and South America, where crowds called Israel an “apartheid state” and urged the EU and U.S. to cut ties. In Brussels, 3,000 protesters rallied in front of the European Parliament, setting off smoke bombs and urging leaders to “break the siege.”
In Geneva, young demonstrators lit bonfires and clashed briefly with police, while in Athens, fireworks and flares lit up the night sky as marchers condemned what they called a “barbaric escalation” by Israel.
In Kuala Lumpur, protesters rallied outside the U.S. embassy, with one participant saying: “They are just bringing in aid and baby food… this arrest is unjust.”
A Growing Movement
The Global Sumud Flotilla has become a powerful symbol of resistance to the blockade of Gaza. With voices from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America joining together, the protests underline a growing global demand: end the siege, free the flotilla, and allow aid to reach Gaza’s people.