Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, has shared a message of support to the Global Sumud Flotilla crew, saying their mission “fully complies with international law.”
Albanese said in a video message shared on social media that any attempt to intercept and stop the flotilla on its way to Gaza “might constitute an aggression and a violation of the crew’s rights under international maritime law,” adding, “Together we must break the siege.”
Numerous leaders, public figures and international organisations expressed their support for the Global Sumud Flotilla and its mission to break Gaza’s siege.
Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro wrote to the activists onboard the flotilla expressing his solidarity and support for their mission.
In Italy, former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, the Head of the country’s Five Star Movement, described the Global Sumud Flotilla as an “extraordinary reaction from ‘below’ to international indifference” on the topic.
As well as Barcelona’s former Mayor, Ada Colau, who is on board the flotilla, a number of Spanish politicians have expressed their support.
Jaume Asens, a Spanish member of the European Parliament, has written in support of the flotilla, while Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said his government will “deploy all of its diplomatic and consular protection to protect our citizens” sailing towards Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla departed Barcelona on Monday, September 1, 2025, evening after having had to return to port on Sunday, August 31, 2025, due to bad weather.
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, delegations from 44 countries have already committed to sail to Gaza as part of the largest maritime mission attempting to break Israel’s illegal siege of the Palestinian territory.
People from six continents will be taking part in the flotilla, including from countries such as Australia, Brazil, South Africa and numerous European states.
Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, will be one of 10 South Africans sailing with the Sumud Flotilla, which he says is responding to the threat posed by “apartheid Israel and Netanyahu and his regime.”
Hundreds of people are on board about 15 vessels, including Greta Thunberg, humanitarian activist Thiago Avila, journalists, doctors, politicians, humanitarians and activists from the 44 countries.
The flotilla’s planned first stop is Tunisia, where they will link up with other ships. They will be joined by more boats from Italy and other undisclosed ports.
The Italian humanitarian organisation, EMERGENCY announced that its search and rescue ship, called Life Support, will join the Sumud Flotilla as an observer.
EMERGENCY said in a statement that Life Support will also provide medical and logistical support to the other vessels in the flotilla.
The aid group asserted that what is happening in Gaza is “unacceptable,” saying that its staff, who work in two health clinics in the Khan Younis governorate, report “an extremely grave situation.”
It added that Life Support will set sail from Catania, alongside other vessels in the Italian delegation.
Meanwhile, twelve elected representatives taking part in the Sumud Flotilla issued a statement, calling for “immediate action to ensure humanitarian access to Gaza.”
The signatories called on all states and relevant authorities to take every possible measure to guarantee, “at a minimum, the opening of a safe and continuous humanitarian corridor to Gaza.”
They added that this is a moral, legal and humanitarian imperative, saying, “Civilians must have access to life-saving aid without obstruction or delay.”
The elected representatives on board the flotilla included politicians from Argentina, Brazil, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
More than 160 other elected representatives also signed the statement in support of those on board.
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