Global Sumud Flotilla faces drone surveillance and Israeli threats as it approaches Gaza

At Sea — The Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of 47 boats carrying over 500 activists, says it has come under intensifying surveillance and intimidation as it approaches Gaza, with drones circling overhead and warnings of imminent interception by Israeli forces, international media reported.

The activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, say they are attempting a peaceful humanitarian mission but face growing threats of force.

Organisers reported Tuesday that drone activity had increased significantly, describing the presence as “psychological warfare” aimed at intimidating participants into retreating. The flotilla has entered the 150-nautical-mile “high-risk zone,” where previous missions have been violently intercepted. Campaigners warn that any attack or forced boarding would endanger civilian lives and breach international maritime law.

Israel has justified its actions by claiming the blockade is essential to prevent Hamas from smuggling arms. Humanitarian organisations counter that the blockade itself constitutes collective punishment, depriving two million Palestinians of food, medicine, and freedom of movement. Rights experts point out that repeated armed interventions against civilian aid missions may violate the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Italy and Spain initially provided naval escorts, but Rome withdrew its frigate on Tuesday, leaving activists without international protection. Organisers accused Italy of abandoning them to “Israeli aggression.” Critics argue that the absence of neutral observers increases the likelihood of unchecked military action, as reported by The Times of Israel.

Humanitarian campaigners say the presence of parliamentarians, lawyers, and journalists on board is intended to ensure transparency and witness, Al Jazeera reported. “We are here to shine a light on what Gaza is enduring,” one activist was quoted as saying.

For rights defenders, the drones and threats surrounding the convoy underscore a deeper point: that even peaceful, civilian solidarity efforts are treated as security threats, rather than as lifelines to a besieged civilian population.