Six ships in the Global Sumud Flotilla came under attack early Wednesday in international waters—600 nautical miles away from Gaza, according to the organizers. No injuries were reported, though the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza said it was still assessing the full impact of the strikes.
Drones and stun projectiles struck multiple vessels in what organizers described as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the mission. Among the affected vessels was the Ohwayla, which was hit by a small stun bomb but sustained no damage. The Yulara was sprayed with an unidentified chemical from a device that plunged into the sea before causing harm.
A similar stun device struck the Otaria mid-mast, while the Maria Cristina was hit above deck. The Selvaggia was targeted but left unscathed, and the Zefiro sustained minor damage to its sail.
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Prior to the attack, the flotilla reported heavy drone activity, with nearly 20 drones flying at low altitude. The command activated a danger protocol across the convoy, and communications were disrupted during the aerial assault.
“These attacks and attempts at intimidation will not stop us from delivering aid and breaking the siege,” the committee said. It called on UN member states, especially those with nationals aboard, to intervene immediately, ensure protection, and dispatch naval escorts. The group also urged governments to raise the matter at the UN General Assembly and to push for a resolution condemning the violations.
Earlier this month, while docked in Tunisia, two Global Sumud Flotilla boats have already been struck with incendiary drones. No perpetrator has claimed responsibility, but activists on board have pointed to Israeli officials’ public threats to the flotilla.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has also upped the ante, ahead of the flotilla’s imminent arrival. In a statement posted to X, the ministry threatened that “Israel will take the necessary measures to prevent its entry into the combat zone and to stop any violation of a lawful naval blockade,” if the flotilla organizers refuse Israel’s proposal to “transfer any such aid to the Ashkelon Marina so it can be forwarded promptly to the Gaza Strip in a peaceful and non-violent manner.”
While the Israeli MFA stated it will make “every possible effort to ensure the safety of its passengers,” it has repeatedly referred to the flotilla as the “Hamas flotilla,” even going so far as to accuse its organizers of being active Hamas operatives.
The Sumud flotilla set sail from Barcelona with more than 300 activists, later stopping in Tunisia, where additional ships joined the convoy. Organizers continue to maintain that their mission is to deliver humanitarian aid, challenge Israel’s exclusive control of the enclave’s crossings, and spotlight the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
