1st ship of Maghreb Sumud Flotilla departs from Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port to Bizerte
All vessels arriving from Spain have already reached Bizerte
Tunisians gather at the port of Bizerte to show their support as the Global Sumud Flotilla docks in northern Tunisia on September 12, 2025. The flotilla, which aims to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, has postponed its departure to Saturday due to logistical reasons, according to organizers.
ISTANBUL
The first ship of the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla departed late Friday toward the Bizerte port as part of preparations for a joint voyage to the Gaza Strip, according to the flotilla.
In a livestream of the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla on the US social media company, Facebook, the first ship set sail from Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port to the Bizerte port.
All vessels arriving from Spain have already reached Bizerte, the flotilla said earlier at a news conference.
Beginning Friday night, 23 ships that make up the Maghreb segment of the Global Sumud flotilla will sail to Bizerte in succession, where they will assemble with the Spanish vessels, it said.
Once gathered, the convoy will set out toward Gaza on Saturday, it added.
Organizers added that ships from Italy and Greece are expected to join the flotilla, further expanding the fleet before the Mediterranean crossing.
The Global Sumud Flotilla includes at least 40 vessels carrying between 500 and 700 activists from more than 40 countries.
The convoy is the largest of its kind to date, as previous attempts involved single ships that Israel intercepted at sea.
Organizers said the goal is to challenge the blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, where famine conditions have taken hold under Israel’s months-long aid blockade.
