By Juan Cole, Reposted from Informed Comment, September 25, 2025
On Wednesday (September 24), the socialist government of Pedro Sánchez in Spain announced that it would dispatch a rescue ship to be in the vicinity of the 50 ships that make up the Sumud (steadfastness) flotilla, aiming to provide humanitarian relief to the Gaza Strip. It joins Italy in this endeavor. This, according to Carlos E. Cué and Miguel González at El País.
The Sumud has come under repeated Israeli drone fire. On Wednesday (September 24), Israeli drones dropped explosives in the vicinity of the ships moored off the island of Crete, but caused no damage or injuries.
Prime Minister Sánchez said from the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, “The government of Spain requires that international law be observed and that the right of our citizens to navigate the Mediterranean in conditions of security be respected. For this reason, tomorrow a Maritime Action vessel will depart [the base in Cartagena] with all the means of assisting the flotilla or of carrying out any rescue, if necessary.”
Israel has routinely violated the law of the seas by attacking ships in international waters. Spanish citizens are taking part in the Sumud flotilla, and Spain is saying they have the right to do so.
Some 82% of Spaniards categorize what Israel is doing in Gaza as a genocide, a massive proportion that demonstrates that Israel’s actions are condemned by large numbers of people on both the left and the right. But note that 85% of centrists and 97% of Spaniards on the left view the Gaza campaign as genocidal.
The Maritime Action ship is not intended to shoot down attacking Israeli drones or to defend the Sumud ships from being boarded by the Israeli military. It will, however, rescue any passengers that end up in the sea because of Israeli actions.
It should be underlined, however, that it is entirely possible that the Maritime Action vessel will come under Israeli fire, which would spark an enormous diplomatic and military crisis.
Spain and Italy are both NATO members, and Article 5 says that “an attack on one is an attack on all.” NATO invoked this principle after the September 11, 2001, al-Qaida attacks on New York City and Washington, D. C., which is why there were NATO troops in Afghanistan but not in Iraq, which the rest of NATO did not view as a belligerent.
Thus, if Israel attacks the Spanish escort ship, it could stir up a strong European reaction and would put the Trump administration on the spot, since Trump will side with Israel against NATO.
Spain’s maritime action vessels can accommodate 80 passengers. They are also armed with a 76-millimeter gun, two machine guns, and a surveillance drone of their own. This one will have a crew of 50 and 8 medical staff.
Sanchez’s government reached out to Italy for coordination and sought to add another country to the escort, such as Ireland.
For her part, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, from a far-right party, faced a national strike involving 500,000 people on September 22 over her refusal to recognize a Palestinian state alongside France and Britain. She said on September 23 that she’d recognize Palestine if Hamas releases Israeli hostages and if the organization is excluded from any Palestinian government going forward. This position was the one taken by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer until September 21, when he folded before the weight of sentiment among his back-benchers.
Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment.
Global Sumud Flotilla Boats Attacked by Israeli Drones in Waters off the Greek Island of Crete
By Col. Ann Wright, Reposted from Anti-War.com, September 24, 2025
As the Israeli government continues unabated its horrific genocide of Palestinians and the destruction of housing and infrastructure in Gaza, in the third attack on the 42-ship Global Sumud flotilla, drones attacked multiple boats in international waters southwest of the Greek island of Crete, this morning, September 24, 2025.
In May 2025, another flotilla ship, the Conscience, was attacked in international waters off Malta. It was damaged by Israeli bombs that blew holes in the deck of the ship’s bow causing severe damage in the hold in the bow of the ship.
These assassin drones have ruthlessly and systematically killed hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza over the past two years.
14 Sailboats Attacked by Chemical Devices, “Flashbangs” and Detonation Cords
14 sailboats have been confirmed to have been attacked in the early morning hours of September 24 using chemical devices or “flashbangs” on steroids.
Detonation cords dropped from drones landed on several boats very near fuel cannisters.
Mayday Signal Sent to Greek Coast Guard Went Unanswered
When the drone attacks began, the flotilla sent a Mayday signal to the Greek Coast Guard, but not surprisingly, no Coast Guard vessel arrived to check on what was happening to the boats.
In 2011, the Greek government was paid off by the Israeli government to stop ten flotilla boats from departing Greek waters to break the illegal Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.
Attacks on Global Sumud Sailboats
The following are brief descriptions of some of the drone attacks
- Ohwayla (US Veterans Boat) was hit by a small flashbang.
- Yulara was flooded with a chemical device, but the capsule that was releasing the chemicals bounced and fell into the water. One person was burned by the chemical.
- Otaria was hit by a flashbang at midmast.
- Maria Cristina was targeted twice by a flashbang above the deck.
- Selvaggia (Women’s Boat from Italy) was hit by a flashbang.
- Morgana was hit by a flashbang.
- Zefiro was hit by a flashbang. Confirmed damage to the rigging.
- Taigete sustained some damage to the mainsail
Videos describing the attacks
This link has a series of videos in which the attacks are described:
https://x.com/dropsitenews/status/1970627127792775584?s=12&t=LmTi29WSk5nIuU-BzL6sHw and “Flashbangs” on steroids: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO9zPp9AjiG/
24 US Citizens on various boats of the flotilla, including U.S. military veterans (with Congressional Districts for calling)
Of the approximately 550 persons on the approximately 50 boats of the Global Sumud flotilla, there are 22 U.S. citizens.
The boat Ohwayla has five U.S. military veterans onboard:
Phil Tottenham- OH 01
Zue Jernstedt. NY 10
Greg Stoker TX 37
Zuleyka Morales Rivera WV 01
Jessica Kaye Clotfelter IL 16
U.S. veteran Najeh Abduljalil is on the Familia boat. NV 02
Other US citizens on the Ohwayla:
Logan Hollarsmith AZ 06
Windfield Beaver CA 23
The following U.S. citizens are on other GSF boats (with Congressional districts for calling):
Carsie Blanton-Paola; NJ 07
Eric Lein-Jeannot III. NY 02
Adnaan Stumo -Mikeno MA 01
Tor Stumo -Huga MA 01
Paul Reid-Hio OR 03
Jasmine Ikeda-Meteque WA 02
Michael Fix-Familia NY 16
Tom Marcus – Familia. NY 15
Hannah Smith – Familia. CO 02
Geraldine Ramirez-Mali. AZ 02
Stephen Wahab- Alma OR 05
Leila Hegazy-Alma NY 11
Idris Hausler-Alma Lives in the Netherlands
Frank Romano-Spectre NY 01
Italy is sending a Navy Frigate to Support the Global Sumud Flotilla
Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced that the country is sending a navy frigate to support the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, after it was targeted by multiple drones on September 24.
Italy had earlier urged Israel to guarantee the safety of the aid ships and the Italian activists on board, noting that members of parliament and MEPs are also part of the flotilla.
Sixteen nations have warned Israel to respect international law and not attack the flotilla. In a joint statement the foreign ministers of Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, and Türkiye said, “The Global Sumud Flotilla has informed about its objective of delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and raising awareness about the urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people and the need to stop the war in Gaza. We therefore call on everyone to refrain from any unlawful or violent act against the flotilla and to respect international law and international humanitarian law. We recall that any violation of international law and human rights of the participants in the flotilla, including attacks against the vessels in international waters or illegal detention, will lead to accountability.”
Israel Says It Will Not Allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow any breach of the naval blockade
Israel, which blocked two previous attempts by activists to reach Gaza by sea in June and July, has said it will not allow the flotilla to reach the embattled Palestinian territory.
“Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade. If their intentions are sincere, they should transfer any such aid to the nearby Ashkelon Marina so it can be forwarded promptly to the Gaza Strip in a non-violent manner,” foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said.
As the world knows, Israel is blocking the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying medical and food aid to starving and sick Palestinians in Gaza.
Contact US Government Offices and Officials Demanding Action Against the Israeli Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank… and the Israeli Bombing of flotilla ships carrying food for the starving Palestinians in Gaza.
Contact the White House at 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414
Contact the Department of State Operations Center: 202-647-1512
Contact Congress – Demand that your Senators and Representatives:
- Speak out publicly condemning the attack, call for accountability, and the flotilla’s safe passage.
- Direct the State Department to protect U.S. citizens on board.
- Use the power of the purse under Article I of the Constitution to hold Israel accountable and immediately introduce legislation that cuts off U.S.
Leave a voice message. Dial the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Go further: Contact the members of Congress with constituents on board.
- Organize vigils, protests, and teach-ins. Make the crisis visible in your communities. This is also an excellent opportunity to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people and to push for an end to the genocide.
- Organize Direct Actions to disrupt complicit entities and dramatize our commitment to resist U.S. complicity in genocide.
- Pressure the media to cover this story of bold, international action to stop genocide. Write op-eds, contact local outlets. Use social media to call out those who enable propaganda. Demand honest coverage.
- Build coalitions with immigrant rights groups, faith organizations, anti-racist and pro-Palestinian justice movements, union locals, and any groups fighting censorship and free speech crackdown.
- Stand with BDS: Just as Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions were crucial in ending apartheid in South Africa, they remain a legitimate nonviolent tool against Israeli apartheid and genocide.
- Be creative. Be visible. Be loud. Make your voices heard.
Ann Wright is a 29-year U.S. Army veteran who retired as a Colonel. She was also a U.S. diplomat for 16 years. She is on the steering committee of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla coalition and a member of Veterans for Peace and CODEPINK: Women for Peace, among many other peace organizations.
RELATED:
- 15 Years Ago I Was on a Gaza Flotilla Mission That Ended in the Deaths of 10 and Wounding of 50 by Israeli Commandos
- Israel Can Only Deter the Global Sumud Flotilla by Stopping Its Genocide in Gaza
- Largest Gaza aid flotilla sets sail as famine deepens
- Israel committing genocide in Gaza, world’s top scholars on the crime say
- Israeli army database suggests at least 83% of Gaza dead were civilians
