PUTRAJAYA: The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is departing Barcelona, Spain, on April 12, carrying an international coalition determined to challenge Israel's siege on Gaza and respond to the escalating humanitarian and political crisis faced by Palestinians.
The multi-national mission will bring together more than 80 boats and over 1,000 participants from across the world.
Alongside the core siege-challenging fleet, the mission includes specialised civilian workers, including doctors, teachers and eco-builders, prepared to support urgent relief, community care and early-stage reconstruction in direct partnership with Palestinians.
GSF in a statement on Sunday (April 5) said the flotilla sails because the cost of inaction is too high to bear.
"As Gaza endures intensifying blockade, violence and deprivation, the mission is a principled, nonviolent intervention and a defence of human dignity, a call for humanitarian access and a demand for
international accountability.
"It is a direct challenge to walls, blockades and systemic violence-and a spark for coordinated political and solidarity action worldwide," GSF said.
It added that the 2026 flotilla is a carefully structured civilian intervention at a moment of escalating violence and humanitarian crisis.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in January was reported to have said that Malaysia will remain actively involved in international humanitarian efforts to defend the rights of the Palestinian people amid the worsening crisis in Gaza.
Anwar said the Madani government would be directly involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 as part of a broader international moral struggle that demands courage in upholding justice and humanitarian rights, regardless of borders, race or religion.
In August last year, Malaysia sent 34 activists to join the GSF, with 23 of them continuing the voyage into Red Zone 3 towards Gaza.
However, on Oct 2, all 23 Malaysian volunteers were detained by Israeli authorities before being taken to Ketziot Prison.
After several days, all of them were released and returned to Malaysia on Oct 7. - Bernama
