With 150 countries participating... The Global Flotilla of Resilience prepares to break the Gaza blockade in April

The Global Flotilla of Resilience coalition announced its readiness to launch a massive international naval campaign aimed at breaking the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, with the coalition setting April 12th as the departure date for the ships. This step comes with broad participation including activists from nearly 150 countries, as the flotilla is expected to include more than 100 ships and boats departing from various destinations.

During a press conference held in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey, the flotilla's management affirmed that the situation in the Gaza Strip has surpassed the limits of a humanitarian crisis to become a systematic genocide targeting Palestinian existence. Activist Dilek Tekocak clarified in the press statement that closing borders and preventing the entry of essential aid constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and humanitarian norms.

Flotilla management stressed that targeting health and civilian infrastructure in Gaza directly aims to eliminate the Palestinian people's right to a dignified life. Sources indicated that what is promoted as a state of calm after months of ceasefire announcements is nothing but a slow strangulation system practiced against civilians through the continuation of the suffocating blockade.

For his part, Bülent Yıldırım, head of the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), revealed an ambitious plan to collect global donations spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Arab Gulf states. This financial campaign aims to purchase and equip up to 200 ships, a step intended to make the interception of the flotilla by Israeli forces extremely difficult.

Yıldırım affirmed in his statements that global civil society has no other option but to resort to maritime routes to impose a new reality and deliver relief to those under siege. He explained that the occupation obstructs the arrival of sufficient aid and condemns the residents of the Strip to hunger and disease through a policy of rationing calories and foodstuffs allowed to enter.

The mission of the naval convoy is not limited to transporting foodstuffs only, but also aims to transport specialized teams of healthcare workers, teachers, and engineers to rebuild environmental infrastructure. The coalition also plans to transport a group of lawyers and war crimes investigators to document the field violations suffered by residents in the Gaza Strip.

Initial estimates indicate the participation of more than a thousand medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, in this journey, described as the largest civilian maritime demonstration in support of Palestine. Participants seek to provide direct medical care and contribute to restoring the health system that has collapsed due to direct targeting and ongoing military operations.

This initiative comes as a continuation of previous efforts, as the end of August 2025 saw the departure of ships from the ports of Barcelona and Genoa, before being attacked by the occupation army near Gaza's territorial waters. That previous attack resulted in the arrest of activists and the confiscation of aid shipments, sparking a wave of widespread international condemnation demanding accountability from Tel Aviv.

International organizations, including Amnesty International, demanded the necessity of providing international protection for the Flotilla of Resilience to ensure its safe arrival on Gaza's shores. The United Nations also affirmed on previous occasions that attacking humanitarian convoys and peaceful activists constitutes an unacceptable violation of international humanitarian law and maritime navigation laws.

It is worth noting that the Gaza Strip has been suffering from a war of genocide launched by the occupying state since October 2023, which has led to the martyrdom of more than 72,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children. Military operations have caused the destruction of about 90% of vital facilities and infrastructure, making international popular action an urgent necessity to confront the catastrophe.

There is no other option but the sea to break this systematic blockade that kills Palestinians' right to life.