Gaza aid flotilla sails through Greek waters on mission

A convoy of ships attempting to break Israel’s maritime blockade on Gaza has entered Greek waters as part of a coordinated aid mission. The Global Sumud Flotilla announced that four boats belonging to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition have been sailing through Greek territorial waters between the Peloponnese Peninsula and the island of Crete since departing from Syracuse, Italy, last Saturday. Their destination is the besieged Palestinian enclave, where 2.4 million people face severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel.

Flotilla preparing to merge near Crete

Organizers stated that 32 additional vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla are currently positioned off the southern coast of Crete in a coordinated waiting pattern. The fleet’s next movement plan is expected to be clarified within hours. Officials are evaluating sea conditions and safe navigation strategies before the various contingents unite and set course for Gaza. The real-time locations of the boats can be tracked through the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s live monitoring platform.

Türkiye’s Marmaris contingent ready to join

Preparations for boats moored in Marmaris, a Mediterranean resort town along Türkiye’s southwest coast, have been largely completed. Activist training activities are ongoing, though the departure time has yet to be fixed. Türkiye has long been a base and supporter of Gaza-bound flotillas, viewing them as legitimate humanitarian missions challenging an illegal blockade. Past flotillas have faced interception by Israeli naval forces, sometimes resulting in casualties and diplomatic incidents. Ankara, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel following the 2010 Mavi Marmara raid, continues to advocate for unhindered aid access to Gaza and frequently condemns what it calls collective punishment of Palestinian civilians.