What is the Gaza freedom flotilla?

A ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza was struck by an Israeli drone overnight – a reality all too familiar to the organisers of the mission.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) vessel was struck near Malta in the early hours of Friday, sparking a fire and leaving it in danger of sinking.

It had been carrying 30 people from 21 countries. All members of the crew were confirmed to be safe.

FFC says its goal is to break Israel’s 18-year land, sea and air blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has deprived Palestinians of their rights to health, safety and freedom of movement.

It does that through education about the blockade, publicising the complicity of other governments in enabling it, and direct action to support Palestinians in their efforts to break the siege.

It says that it is governed by the principles of non-violent resistance.

The coalition includes member organisations from several countries, including Canada, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the US, Ireland, Brazil, Australia and France.

It first came together in 2010, after Israeli forces boarded a Freedom Flotilla mission in May that year and killed 1o activists.

The Mavi Marmara mission had been organised by the Free Gaza Movement and Turkey’s IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation.

The ship set sail on 22 May from Sarayburnu port, Istanbul, in an attempt to breach the Israeli blockade on Gaza.

A week later, in the Mediterranean Sea south of Cyprus, it joined the rest of the aid flotilla, comprising three passenger and three cargo ships carrying essential humanitarian aid and 700 activists.

But on 31 May 2010, despite being in international waters, Israeli troops violently boarded the Mavi Marmara vessel using helicopters and speedboats. Nine people were killed instantly, while another later died as a result of his wounds.

The incident became a major international story, with Israel’s actions receiving strong condemnations.

Decade and half of Israeli attacks

Following the 2010 mission, the FFC was created to bring together and coordinate various campaigns from around the world seeking to break Israel’s siege. 

A subsequent mission in 2011, named “Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human” was due to set sail towards Gaza on 5 July. However, the vast majority of vessels in the flotilla were unable to depart. 

Organisers said that Israel had sabotaged two of the ships set to depart from Turkey and Greece. 

One of the vessels, organised by an Irish group, was not allowed to leave port after Greek authorities cited safety concerns. 

The only aid ship that managed to get near Gaza, the French vessel Dignite al-Karama, was intercepted by Israeli authorities. 

Freedom Flotilla III, which left Sweden on 10 May 2015, was again intercepted by Israeli authorities in international waters a month and a half after setting sail.

One of the boats, named Marianne, was forced by Israeli troops to turn towards the city of Ashdod, in southern Israel. Other vessels turned back.

Among those on Marianne were lawmaker Basel Ghattas, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, and Moncef Marzouki, the former president of Tunisia.

The following year, the FFC organised the Women’s Boat to Gaza, a single ship with an entirely female crew.

It set sail from Barcelona on 14 September 2016, but two weeks later, on 5 October, was seized by Israeli forces.

The entirety of the all-female crew – which included journalists, actors, politicians and even a Nobel Peace Prize winner – were arrested by Israeli troops, who took them to Ashdod. All of them were subsequently deported.

Another mission, which set sail in May 2017 in solidarity with Gaza fishermen, was attacked by a suspected Israeli drone in international waters near Malta.

In July the following year, Israeli forces stopped al-Awda, a Norwegian flagged fishing boat that was part of the coalition.

All 22 people on board were arrested and taken to Ashdod.

In 2023 and 2024, the ship Handala, which is focused on the children of Gaza, set sail to several destinations in Europe to educate people about Israel’s siege and war on Gaza.