Global interest and celeb supporters, but did the Sumud Flotilla make any difference?

By Ethan Travica

In late August 2025, over 500 people, comprising more than 40 vessels launched the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), in the latest attempt by various humanitarian groups like the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, in order to try and directly provide aid to the peoples of Gaza. On Wednesday October 1st, the roughly 400 activists, whose number had been decreased through illegal interceptions by Israeli forces in international waters, made their final approach to Gaza in their attempt to breach Israel’s 18 year blockade of Gaza. Unfortunately, and indeed tragically for those Gazans who may die, they did not make it all the way, with the vast majority of the ships in the flotilla being intercepted late in the day on the 1st, and all vessels being intercepted by October 3rd. After being intercepted, those on the vessels were kidnapped and detained by Israel, with some claiming that their treatment has been illegal and inhumane.

Indeed, this is not the first aid flotilla to be intercepted and then deported, it has happened before with both the 'Break the Siege Freedom Flotilla' and the 'Madleen Flotilla', but the treatment of the activists in the Sumud Flotilla seems to be far more abhorrent than in previous cases, with reports of beatings, psychological torture, starving, deprivation, and other tactics of humiliation and abuse. The treatment of Sumud Flotilla activists, especially in comparison to the treatment of previous deported activists is rather telling of the increased resentment, anger, and frustration among Israelis over the continual and increased pressure they are facing, both directly and indirectly through the increase in international isolation with Israel.

A deal has been made, and any form of discussion and talking is a step in the right direction towards a good future for the peoples of Gaza and Palestine.

At the same time, a new ceasefire plan had been set out by Donald Trump, which as

of writing this article, both Hamas, as the current governing body of the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli government have agreed the first part to. The terms of this plan are still quite vague, indeed it only exists in the form of twenty rough points, but we have already seen the benefits that this style of plan has to negotiations here.

This is all unfolding in a growing international context where more countries, who have

traditionally aligned themselves with Israel, are now formally recognising Palestine. These actions have greatly increased the high pressure that Israel is under from the international community, and the growing isolation that they must be feeling because of it.

Looking to the current ceasefire plan, whilst already a momentous step in the right

direction, with a hostage exchange agreed, it is also still lacking in many respects, both in terms of the currently established deal, and also with those points of Trump’s rough plan that have to still be determined and negotiated. Chief among these, is of course what the future governance of Gaza, and future overall existence of Palestine as a state will be.

Current plans would seem to suggest that both Donald Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will serve on this board, along with others, and that Palestinians will find themselves nearly completely unrecognised. However, there is also one other issue that, despite its importance, is incredibly underreported by major media, and that is the issue of the Palestinian hostages that Israel itself has taken from Gaza. Currently, there are over 11,100 Palestinians registered as being held in the prison system of Israel, 400 of whom are children, current reports also estimate that roughly 15,000 other Palestinians have been seized from Gaza and held in Israeli torture detention camps, totalling to roughly 26,000 Palestinians currently being held hostage by Israel, of whom only 1,950, 250 of which are prisoners, and 1,700 are in torture detention, will be released as part of the first stage of the current peace plan.

This is all clearly not good enough, and the current situation of siege and famine in Gaza is demonstrably monstrous, but we should not give up hope. A deal has been made, and any form of discussion and talking is a step in the right direction towards a good future for the peoples of Gaza and Palestine. We also must not give up hope in terms of what we, the peoples of the world as activists, can do, after all whilst the Sumud Flotilla may not have made it to Gaza, it did still provide enough of a distraction to allow the peoples of Gaza to safely fish for the first time in nearly 20 years, and that is an undeniable good.

Image: Tovima