ISRAEL ESCALATES DANGEROUS ATTACKS AGAINST GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA DAYS BEFORE GAZA ARRIVAL

Explosions, Heavy Drone Swarms, and Communications Jamming Signals Pretext for Possible Israeli Attack on 500+ Civilian Volunteers 

Global - In the final days before reaching Gaza, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is experiencing an alarmingly dangerous escalation, with multiple boats reporting targeted explosions and unidentified objects being dropped on and near the boats, causing significant damage and widespread obstruction in communications.
This comes on top of a sustained campaign of intimidation and disinformation by Israel, aimed at discrediting and endangering the 500+ unarmed civilians aboard the flotilla who are attempting to deliver food and medical supplies to Gaza to help end Israel's illegal blockade.

ESCALATING THREATS IN REAL TIME

• Explosions and Jamming: Tonight, at least 13 explosions were heard on and around several flotilla boats, with widespread disruption in communications, raising urgent concerns for the safety of participants.
• Drones Overhead: In the past 24 hours, more than 15 low-altitude drones have hovered above the Alma boat, appearing roughly every 10 minutes.
• Unidentified Objects Dropped: Flotilla participants reported objects being dropped on at least 10 boats from drones or aircrafts, causing damage. No fatalities have been reported. The extent of the damage will be fully assessed in daylight.
• Coordinated Smear Campaign: Israel continues to falsely label the GSF the "Hamas flotilla," asserting that it plans to engage in violent action. This disinformation campaign is an attempt to pre-emptively justify military action against a civilian-led, nonviolent, humanitarian mission.

LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC STAKES/DEMANDS

International law is clear: Civilians, including those engaged in humanitarian missions, are protected under the Geneva Conventions. Any attack on this mission would constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. It would also violate the International Court of Justice's binding provisional measures, which require Israel to allow and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

We demand that all UN Member States-and in particular those whose nationals are aboard the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla-immediately ensure and facilitate effective protection, including maritime escort, accredited diplomatic observers, and an overt protective State presence, so that the flotilla may proceed safely, the mission may continue unimpeded, and the law prevails over acts of annihilation. In light of the ongoing 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, we call upon all Member States to place the attacks on the flotilla on the Assembly's agenda and to adopt a resolution addressing these grave violations.

WHO IS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
Global Sumud Flotilla Steering Committee members, GSF surveillance experts, legal experts, and international solidarity leaders are available immediately for interviews to discuss:

• Tonight's explosions, communications jamming, and drone harassment - with video footage available for media use
• Israel's use of propaganda and smear campaigns in advance of anticipated illegal military aggression
• Legal protections for civilians and humanitarian missions under international law
• The flotilla's nonviolence training, medical support, and commitment to transparency
• The urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza makes this mission a moral and legal imperative.

📥 Download press release (English and French)

BACKGROUND:
The Global Sumud Flotilla is a multinational civilian effort to break Israel's illegal siege of Gaza. More than 500 volunteers - doctors, lawyers, parliamentarians, unionists, and human rights defenders — are delivering medical supplies and food to Gaza's besieged population. Every participant has committed to strict nonviolence and has undergone extensive training. Legal and medical support boats accompany the mission to guarantee full transparency and adherence to international law.