Global Sumud Flotilla announces largest civilian mobilisation to Gaza since blockade

TheGlobal Sumud Flotillaannounced plans on Thursday for what organisers describe as the largest coordinated civilian mobilisation toGazasince Israel imposed its blockade, with parallel land and sea actions set to launch at the end of March 2026. The initiative will begin with a maritime departure from Barcelona on March 29, before expanding across multiple Mediterranean ports in a phased operation that combines a flotilla at sea with a coordinated overland convoy. Organisers said the combined actions were intended to form a civilian-led humanitarian corridor aimed at facilitating access to Gaza and sustaining international solidarity with Palestinians.

The announcement was made at a press conference at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, attended by members of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s international steering committee who are in South Africa as part of outreach before the Spring 2026 mobilisation. Opening the briefing, organisers welcomed representatives from civil society organisations, faith-based groups and the media, describing the Johannesburg event as the flotilla’s first major public announcement in South Africa before the March launch. ReverendFrank Chikaneaddressed the conference, thanking South African civil society and institutions for hosting the delegation and expressing appreciation for what he described asvisible public support for Palestineacross the country.

He framed the mobilisation in moral and historical terms, drawing on South Africa’s experience of international solidarity during the anti-apartheid struggle. Chikane spoke about shared responsibility and conscience, arguing that ordinary people had a role to play when political and institutional responses failed to halt civilian suffering. He did not address operational or logistical aspects of the planned mission.

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Steering committee member Saif Abukeshek said the decision to hold the briefing in South Africa reflected the movement’s view of the country as a reference point for people-led resistance. Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, he said organisers were drawing inspiration from the country’s struggle against apartheid and the legacy of Nelson Mandela. Abukeshek said contacts on the ground in Gaza had reported no material improvement in conditions despite references to a ceasefire.

He said at least 20 Palestinians had been killed in bombardments the previous day, including an 11-year-old child, bringing the number of people killed since the start of the ceasefire to more than 500. He said the humanitarian impact on children had intensified, stating that the number of orphans in Gaza had risen from about 16 000 in 2013 to more than 40 000. The figures represented children in need of protection and international support rather than abstract statistics.

Abukeshek also outlined severe restrictions on movement and medical access, saying only a few patients were being allowed to leave Gaza each day for treatment, while thousands remained stranded. He said tens of thousands of Palestinians were stuck outside Gaza, including in Egypt, with many facing urgent medical needs.

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