The first ship of the Sumud Global Flotilla sets sail from the port of Tunis bound for Gaza, September 14, 2025. (Photo: Anadolu)
The Global Sumud Flotilla rejected Israel’s offer to move aid into Gaza through an Israeli port and warned of possible retaliation against the vessel for its refusal.
In a statement, the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is heading to the Gaza Strip, rejected on Tuesday the Israeli proposal to unload humanitarian aid at the port of Ashkelon for further distribution. The humanitarian mission has pointed out that this practice constitutes “a recurrent measure to obstruct and delay the direct delivery of assistance”, while warning of possible reprisals against the vessel.
In addition, he stressed that the Israeli proposal “does not represent a neutral solution”, but responds to a deliberate strategy of obstruction.
“Israel’s record of intercepting ships, blocking convoys and restricting routes demonstrates that its intention is not to facilitate humanitarian aid, but to control, delay and deny it,” the note warned.
In terms of the humanitarian context, the flotilla recalled that, since May 2024, the Israeli authorities have only allowed an average of 70 trucks a day to enter Gaza, a figure far below the 500 to 600 that United Nations (UN) agencies estimate necessary to meet the basic demands of the population.
The mission has also warned that Israel would be “preparing the ground to justify a violent response” by presenting peaceful humanitarian action as a “legal violation”.
Finally, he urged the international community to recognize that these Israeli guidelines represent “the continuation of a blockade that, according to UN investigators, is part of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
The fleet has set sail collectively and is estimated to reach the Gaza Strip in about a week, reaffirming its commitment to the civilian population affected by the blockade and bombardment.
Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, the situation continues to deteriorate. Since October 2023, the Israeli regime has killed more than 65,344 Palestinians and injured another 166,795.
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