Israel Intercepts Global Sumud Flotilla

Israel controls everything going in and out of Gaza. To combat Israel's oppressive dominance of Gaza's supplies, a group of activists labeled as the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) decided to sail the Mediterranean Sea in an attempt to deliver food, water, baby formula, crutches, and other materials. Today, members of the non-violent, humanitarian Global Sumud Flotilla are in danger. Indeed, Israel has illegally intercepted more than 40 boats with 500 peaceful activists on board.

It's no small secret that Israel is starving Gaza. The primary strategy of Israel is to blockade nearly every source of aid from a myriad of different international organizations. Last September, "15 international aid organisations said Israel was blocking 83 percent of Gaza's aid." The excuse is always Hamas. Israel continually claims, with zero evidence, that aid is being stolen and withheld from the Palestinian people by Hamas. Moreover, a report from USAID finds there is no evidence of Hamas systematically looting aid. The denial of aid underscores the need for the Global Sumud Flotilla to exist.

Greta Thunberg, a world-famous climate activist, encapsulates the GSF's mission statement by declaring, "I'm not scared of Israel. I'm scared of a world that has seemingly lost all sense of humanity." While the primary goal is to deliver aid to the ongoing humanitarian corridor, the Global Sumud Flotilla is meant to place international focus on Israel's crimes. So far, they've succeeded. Immediately after news of the Israeli Navy's interception, protests erupted globally in more than nine countries. In Italy, workers are going back on strike. In South Africa, leaders have condemned the blatant breach of international law, calling for the release of South African activists. In Turkey, top officials label Israel's acts as terrorism. Overall, a majority of the international community is united in condemning Israel's actions.

At the time of writing this article, one ship is still sailing towards the Gaza Strip. Its presence is more than a delivery of humanitarian resistance; it is an act of resistance against a system of genocide. The vessel is a symbol of the refusal to normalize the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza. For the activists on board, the risk of arrest and interception is a small price to pay compared to the suffering of two million Palestinians who are trapped in the largest open-air prison. For the people of Gaza, who have endured bombings, starvation, and the deprivation of basic necessities, the vessels signal that to many around the world, they are not forgotten. Each mile the boat crosses challenges the narrative that Palestinians are isolated. Their struggle resonates far beyond the surveillance towers of the IDF.

Under international law, the blockade on Gaza has been seen for what it is: a form of collective punishment illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention. By intercepting a humanitarian flotilla, Israel once again is placing itself at odds with the legal norms of the world. The Global Sumud Flotilla forces the world to see how the Israeli government is at odds with any accountability. No matter if the cargo on the ship is delivered, the flotilla is accomplishing something much larger. As protests are breaking out in Rome, Cape Town, Istanbul, and beyond, the divide between the new generation and their governments is clear. Citizens are demanding compassion for the people of Gaza, raising hope for the new generation of leaders. Thunberg's voice is not just seen as that of an activist, but as a representative for the thoughts of people around the world. The Sumud Flotilla isn't just about Gaza; it's about the principle that no nation should be allowed to starve civilians into submission.