Press Release 02/10/2025 – WOFA

The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising 44 ships and nearly 500 participants from around 40 countries, was transporting food, infant formula, water filters, and medical supplies to Gaza. Nineteen Swiss citizens, mainly from French-speaking Switzerland, participated in the expedition.

It was a peaceful and non-violent convoy, as evidenced by the images of the interception, with participants committed to non-violent conduct. They had been trained to respond appropriately, i.e., in a strictly pacifist manner, in the event of interception.

“The aim was not only to deliver humanitarian aid, but to show the world that this blockade is illegal and must be broken. The fact that we were able to get so close to the coast of Gaza, which had never happened before, is already a success in itself,” explains Hicham El Ghaoui, president of the Waves of Freedom association and a doctor from Valais.

“Israel knows that this flotilla is legal, that international law is on our side. The United Nations has declared a famine in Gaza, and the International Criminal Court has reiterated that humanitarian aid must not be obstructed. Tel Aviv knows that its actions are illegal, but acts with impunity,” he adds.

Israeli naval forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters, about 100 kilometres off the coast of Gaza. “This operation is illegal and unjustifiable,” Hicham continues. “We were in constant contact with all the boats until the last moment. Then the Israeli forces used jammers to cut off radio and internet communications. On some ships, soldiers boarded directly and destroyed the cameras. We still have images from the minutes before the interception, showing the soldiers arriving and breaking the equipment. Then everything went dark.”

The flotilla was carrying between 100 and 150 tons of humanitarian aid—the equivalent of three trucks. ”It's not a huge amount, but that's not the point: it's a symbol. Everything is blocked by land and air, so the only option left is the sea. We have shown that the freedom to navigate in international waters is being violated."

Given the situation, Hicham believes that “the authorities will seek above all to expel the participants quickly, because the pressure is strong: trade unions, dockers, and civil organisations are mobilising across Europe to put pressure on governments.”

Legal protection and the role of lawyers

All participants in the Swiss delegation are represented by lawyers based in Switzerland, coordinated by Waves of Freedom Switzerland. An official list of participants and their legal representatives has been sent to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).

Throughout the mission, Swiss lawyers have been in contact with the FDFA and Swiss embassies in Israel, Greece, Jordan, and other relevant countries to request protection for the participants and ensure that all necessary diplomatic and legal measures are taken to guarantee their rights and safety.

The legal representatives serve as the primary points of contact for the Swiss authorities and maintain constant communication with the families of the Swiss delegation participants.

Adalah, the independent group of lawyers based in Haifa and specialising in defending the rights of the Arab minority in Israel, is defending all of the participants. However, at 2:45 p.m. on October 2nd, Adalah reported that its lawyers had been prevented from accessing the participants. Detention and deportation hearings were held directly at the port of Ashdod, without notifying the lawyers and denying the participants any legal assistance.

The FDFA confirmed that it was in contact with the Israeli authorities following the interception of the Sumud flotilla. According to the information provided, those arrested are to be taken to the port of Ashdod for administrative formalities. The Swiss embassy in Tel Aviv is seeking to obtain details as soon as possible on the identity and place of detention of the Swiss citizens concerned, and a consular visit will be arranged as soon as authorisation has been granted.

The FDFA also points out that the Swiss Abroad Act governs its consular assistance. In this context, it can intervene to ensure that detention conditions and procedural guarantees are respected, but it has no authority to secure releases or interfere in local judicial proceedings. In the event of an emergency, the FDFA Helpline is available 24/7.

The Global Sumud Flotilla has denounced an illegal abduction, which is considered a war crime under international law. Intercepting humanitarian ships in international waters, denying access to legal defence, and concealing the fate of those arrested further aggravate this violation.

By way of comparison, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa immediately denounced the interception as a serious violation of international law. He demanded the release of his nationals and the delivery of the humanitarian aid carried by the flotilla to Gaza. He pointed out that the interception in international waters violates the sovereignty of the states whose ships were flying their flags and contravenes an injunction by the International Court of Justice, which stipulates that humanitarian aid must be able to circulate unhindered.

In light of this clarity, the position of the FDFA and our government appears timid and insufficient. Limiting Switzerland's response to administrative contacts or a reminder of the limits of consular assistance does not reflect the gravity of the situation. The Swiss authorities must unequivocally state that the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla is illegal, constitutes a violation of international law and fundamental human rights, and warrants sanctions.

We expect Switzerland to take a position similar to that of South Africa: firm, explicit, and courageous. It must condemn the illegal interception in international waters and actively defend the observance of international law and the effective protection of its citizens.

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