Greta Thunberg Leads 44-Country Gaza Flotilla Attempt From Spain

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is set to participate in a major international flotilla aiming to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, with dozens of boats departing from Spain on August 31 and additional vessels joining from Tunisia and other countries on September 4. This initiative, described as the largest solidarity effort since the blockade began 18 years ago, involves coordinated mobilizations from 44 countries to protest the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Thunberg previously took part in a similar mission in June aboard the sailboat Madleen, which was intercepted by Israeli naval forces before reaching Gaza; she and other activists were detained and later deported from Israel. The activists accuse Israel of escalating violence in Gaza, describing it as genocide and condemning the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Israeli authorities, however, maintain that the flotilla's aid was minimal and emphasize that aid to Gaza is delivered through official humanitarian channels. This ongoing campaign highlights the tension between pro-Palestinian activists seeking to challenge the blockade and Israeli security concerns.