Who are the prominent figures on Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza?
Organisers emphasise that the mission is entirely people-led, unaffiliated with any government or political party, and committed to breaking the “illegal siege” through nonviolent action.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, described by organisers as the largest maritime mission to Gaza, has set sail with nearly 1,000 activists, politicians, doctors, journalists, and artists from 44 countries, united to challenge Israel's blockade and deliver humanitarian aid.
The flotilla, comprising over 50 ships, is coordinated by four major coalitions: the Global Movement to Gaza (GMTG), the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, and Sumud Nusantara.
Organisers emphasise that the mission is entirely people-led, unaffiliated with any government or political party, and committed to breaking the "illegal siege" through nonviolent action.
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High-profile delegation
Among the prominent figures, renowned Bangladeshi photographer and Drik Managing Director Shahidul Alam has joined the media flotilla.
Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, who sailed from Tunis. "As Africans, we know very well what it means to live under occupation, under oppression," he told journalists, describing his participation as a continuation of his family's legacy.
American actress and long-time pro-Palestinian activist Susan Sarandon joined the mission, declaring on social media: "You don't have to be Palestinian to care about what's happening in Gaza. I stand with Palestine. No one is free until everyone is free."
French actress Adèle Haenel returned to public life to join from Tunisia, while Irish actor Liam Cunningham, known for Game of Thrones, sailed from Barcelona and condemned global indifference to the suffering of Gaza's children.
Spanish actors Eduardo Fernández and Ester Expósito also participated, with Expósito acknowledging potential backlash but expressing admiration for the activists on board.
Political figures include Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg; La France Insoumise MEP Emma Fourreau; Ada Colau, former mayor of Barcelona; Italian parliamentarians; and officials from the European Parliament and delegations from Spain, Belgium, France, Ireland, the United States, and Türkiye. Turkish parliamentarians on board include Sema Silkin Ün (Gelecek Party), Mehmet Atmaca and Necmettin Caliskan (Saadet Party), and Faruk Dinç (Huda Party).
British journalist and activist Yvonne Ridley is aboard the Libyan ship Omar al-Mukhtar, which set sail on 6 September.
Northern Irish activist Fra Hughes, along with 20 people from Ireland, is also part of the mission, which he said involves 55 ships.
Journalists such as Mathilda Mallinson are documenting the voyage despite Israeli officials branding participants "terrorists".
Historic scale and legal backing
Delegations from six continents, including Australia, Brazil, and South Africa, are participating. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese publicly backed the mission, stressing that the flotilla complies with international law and warning that any interception would violate maritime law.
The Global Sumud Flotilla has faced obstacles, including drone attacks on vessels like the Conscience in May and the Handala in July, both intercepted by Israeli forces.
Despite the risks, organisers remain determined, "Brothers and sisters in Gaza, we sail with hope in our hearts. Your resilience is our compass, your struggle is our struggle," they wrote on social media.
With nearly 1,000 participants at sea and tens of thousands registered in solidarity worldwide, activists describe the flotilla as a historic moment in global civil resistance.
