From the flotilla to the streets, an international wave of demonstrations is rising up to challenge the blockade and denounce the Palestinian genocide.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail from Spain at the end of August and has already crossed the Mediterranean towards the Gaza Strip (follow the route here), is expected to reach its destination around September 13. The flotilla is carrying hundreds of activists and tons of supplies in a political act against the blockade imposed by Israel. Anticipation of its arrival has triggered an international call for protests on the same date, with demonstrations planned in several cities around the world.
Protests around the world
In Genoa, support went beyond symbolism: port workers collected more than 300 tons of supplies to send to Gaza and announced that if the flotilla is attacked or detained, “no cargo will leave the port for Israel.” This decision, supported by the USB union and the CALP collective, was accompanied by a nighttime torchlit march that brought 40,000 people onto the streets of the city. Inspired by the Genoese gesture, port unions in other countries have also declared their willingness to join a European blockade of cargo destined for Israel if the fleet is intercepted.
In soccer stadiums, solidarity is expressed on a popular scale. In Lisbon, fans of Turkey’s Fenerbahçe held up a giant banner reading “Stop the genocide in Gaza – Free Palestine,” which covered two floors of the stands during a Champions League match. In addition, Turkish fans had already been singing and displaying Palestinian flags at national and international matches since the beginning of the war. UEFA itself, under pressure from public opinion and athletes, even displayed a banner before the European Super Cup with the phrase “Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians” in an attempt to respond to the wave of criticism over the deaths in Gaza.
The mobilization also crosses borders in the streets. Tens of thousands of people protested in Brussels demanding an end to the bombing and siege of Gaza, in events that were repeated in cities such as London, Paris, Madrid, and Rome. At the same time, the flotilla organizers called for protests in 44 countries to accompany its crossing, increasing international public pressure.
Even in the ports where the flotilla docked, solidarity materialized. In Tunisia, after the incident in which one of the ships caught fire under suspicion of a drone attack (which was denied by local authorities, who attributed the fire to internal causes), hundreds of people gathered in front of the dock with Palestinian flags and chants of “Free Palestine.” The attack, which left no injuries, served as a reminder of the tension surrounding the mission, but also as a demonstration of the popular support it inspires.
This mosaic of demonstrations, from ports to streets, from sporting events to bleachers, shows that the flotilla is already fulfilling part of its mission even before reaching Gaza: breaking the silence, generating visibility, and articulating a global network of resistance against the blockade and genocide that Israel is enacting in Gaza.
Take to the streets this September 13
The flotilla is more than a symbolic act of international solidarity with the Palestinians. It is a catalyst for a global wave of protests defending the dignity of a besieged people and their right to self-determination and resistance. When workers put down tools, when fans raise their flags, or when protesters interrupt a sporting event, they are making it known that Gaza is not alone.
September 13 will not only be the possible date of the flotilla’s arrival in Gaza. The world must turn its attention to Israel’s threats against this act of solidarity. For this reason, protests are being planned in several cities around the world.
We call, first and foremost, to take to the streets in large demonstrations of solidarity. And, where possible, to amplify this force with strikes in schools and workplaces, involving students and workers to strengthen the pressure.
It is time to turn solidarity into effective action, demanding that governments around the world break diplomatic, economic, and military relations with the State of Israel and put an end to the genocide and criminal siege of Gaza. On the 13th, Gaza will not be alone: let our struggles be an extension of the Palestinian resistance.
