[News] GSF nears Greece as activists defy Israeli threats to abort their attempt to break Gaza blockade

[Anti-Imperialist News]

  GSF nears Greece as activists defy Israeli threats to abort their
  attempt to break Gaza blockade

Tuesday 23-September-2025 - 
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/09/23/348352/

GAZA, (PIC)

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) sailing to break Israel’s blockade on 
Gaza is approaching Greek territorial waters near Crete, with organizers 
estimating it will reach Gaza within six days.

The GSF, made up of dozens of boats and ships carrying activists from 
nearly 50 countries, marks the largest civilian maritime effort yet to 
challenge Israel’s 18-year siege on the Strip, where famine has already 
claimed the lives of at least 442 Palestinians.

Organizers reported unidentified drones hovering over the ships for 
three consecutive nights, a development they condemned as an attempt to 
intimidate and discredit the mission. They also recalled earlier 
incidents in Tunisia, where two flotilla vessels were struck by Israeli 
drones in the port of Sidi Bou Said. Israel has remained silent on those 
attacks.

French parliamentarian François Piquemal, who joined the flotilla, 
accused Israel of systematically smearing anyone who speaks out against 
what he described as genocide in Gaza. “This is a purely civilian and 
humanitarian initiative,” he told Anadolu Agency, stressing that 
participants include doctors, aid workers, politicians, journalists, and 
artists.

“These accusations are the usual tactics of a state committing 
genocide,” Piquemal said. “Even Pope Francis was recently labeled 
anti-Semitic. Such rhetoric is meant to distract from the reality of 
terror.”

He emphasized that the mission is guided by humanitarian duty, not 
politics, “Participants in this flotilla refuse to stand by and simply 
watch Gaza starve. They are acting because the international community 
has failed.”

Organizers underscored that their civilian, peaceful effort complies 
with international law and that delivering aid by sea to Gaza is a 
protected right. They denounced Israel’s threats against the flotilla, 
calling them illegal attempts to maintain a blockade that has plunged 
2.4 million Palestinians into starvation.

Since March 2 this year, Israel has sealed all Gaza crossings, barring 
food and aid trucks, while allowing only extremely limited assistance 
that fails to meet even minimum survival needs. Many trucks have also 
been looted by gangs protected by the Israeli army.

Backed by the US, Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 
Palestinians and wounded over 166,000 since October 7, 2023.

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