Global Somoud Flotilla pushes to deliver Gaza aid

The Global Somoud Flotilla’s mission faces a life-threatening situation as it attempts to violate Israel’s blockade of Gaza, as reported by The New Arab on August 26th.

Organisers have said there is a 50% possibility that activists joining the mission could end up dead.

Since July, thousands of volunteers from the international community have applied to participate in the largest aid fleet bound for Gaza, which aims to provide humanitarian aid amidst severe famine across the Palestinian enclave.

“No one can really give an exact percentage of the danger we are facing. But yes, 50% or more chance of being struck, arrested, or never making it back” said Wael Naouar, a member of Tunisia’s coordination for Joint Action for Palestine, which is a co-organising committee of the fleet. Notably, Tunisia has long been supportive of Palestinian aid efforts.

“We are aware of these dangers and willing to take the risk” he said in a recent appearance on the Mistkousi podcast.

The Somoud flotilla is set to depart on the last day of this month from Spain. Various other flotillas have attempted to provide aid to Gaza since June 2025, with this marking the most recent attempt to breach Israel’s 17-year blockade and confront a 22-month conflict in Gaza.

The fleet takes its name from a convoy that departed from Tunis in June. The convoy was ultimately stopped by forces aligned with Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar.

The Tunisian group is now working with other civil society groups, such as Freedom Fleet, Global Freedom to Gaza and Malaysia’s Sumud Nusantara.

Organisers say the operation is non-violent, and has no government support, but they hope global leaders and celebrities will join.

As of yet, Islamist-aligned Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is the only confirmed politician from the global south to actively join the group.

The fleet’s Facebook page states that the campaign goes on until September 4th. Donations are limited to Tunisian citizens presenting ID, while anonymous donations are not permitted to ensure transparency.

The New Arab, Maghrebi.org