New aid flotilla departs from Barcelona to challenge Gaza blockade

Sunday 12 April 2026 - 12:30

A new humanitarian aid flotilla is set to depart from the port of Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, aiming to deliver supplies to the Gaza Strip and challenge the ongoing Israeli blockade.

Around 30 boats are expected to take part in the “Global Sumud” initiative, carrying medical equipment and essential relief goods. Additional vessels may join the convoy during its journey toward the Palestinian territory.

Organizers say the mission is intended to highlight the difficulties in delivering humanitarian assistance to Gaza, where international agencies continue to report shortages of basic supplies despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025.

Israel, which controls access to Gaza, maintains that it is not restricting humanitarian aid. However, several international organizations argue that deliveries remain insufficient for the territory’s population, which numbers nearly two million people.

Previous attempts to reach Gaza by sea have been intercepted. In an earlier operation last year, Israeli forces stopped a flotilla organized by the same group, detaining more than 450 participants, including activist Greta Thunberg.

Supporters of the mission describe it as a peaceful effort to establish a humanitarian corridor. Actor Liam Cunningham, who supports the initiative, said that such efforts should not be necessary if governments fulfilled their obligations under international law.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly stressed that even in times of conflict, civilians must have safe access to medical care and essential supplies, as required by international humanitarian law.

According to organizers, the flotilla represents a symbolic effort to ensure that aid reaches civilians in need. Israeli authorities, however, have previously dismissed allegations of mistreatment related to detained activists.