By: Ariella Haviv

Climate activist Greta Thunberg announced on Sunday via her Instagram account that she will take part in what she described as the largest coordinated attempt yet to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. According to a report that appeared on Israel National News, Thunberg revealed that the action will begin later this month and will involve a multi-country effort spanning several continents.

Thunberg stated that the flotilla will launch on August 31 from Spain, consisting of “dozens of boats” headed toward Gaza. She added that the first wave will be joined on September 4 by additional vessels departing from Tunisia and “other ports.” The activist also claimed that the initiative will be supported by a global network of solidarity actions in more than 44 countries, including demonstrations and direct-action campaigns aimed at pressuring governments and institutions to oppose the blockade.

“We are launching the biggest attempt ever to break the illegal Israeli siege over Gaza,” Thunberg wrote in her post, calling the coordinated campaign a “decisive moment” for what she described as the Palestinian cause.

As Israel National News reported, Thunberg’s latest announcement follows her participation in June in the so-called Madleen flotilla, which attempted to breach the same naval blockade. That mission was intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) without incident before reaching Gaza’s shores.

IDF naval forces boarded the Madleen, provided food and water to those on board, and transported the vessel to Ashdod Port. Thunberg and the other activists were deported from Israel shortly thereafter. Israeli officials noted at the time that the aid carried by the Madleen amounted to less than a single truckload and was transferred to Gaza via established humanitarian delivery channels.

Israeli authorities also pointed out that several activists on board had prepared pre-recorded video statements alleging they were “kidnapped” by the IDF—videos that were released after the interception, despite the lack of any reported confrontation or violence during the operation.

As Israel National News has frequently explained in past coverage, Israel maintains its naval blockade of Gaza as part of a broader security framework aimed at preventing weapons smuggling to Hamas and other armed groups. The policy, in place since 2007, restricts maritime access to the territory, allowing only approved vessels and humanitarian shipments through designated ports after inspection.

Israeli officials have long stated that while aid is permitted through formal channels, unauthorized flotillas are intercepted to prevent potential arms shipments. The government insists that all humanitarian goods are transferred through established crossings where they undergo security screening.

The new flotilla announced by Thunberg appears to be part of a multi-stage operation designed to draw heightened international attention. According to her post, the initial launch from Spain will be met by a secondary wave from Tunisia and “other ports” four days later, suggesting a coordinated maritime convergence toward Gaza.

In addition to the maritime component, Israel National News noted that the organizers are mobilizing activist groups in more than 44 countries to stage simultaneous protests and public events. The coordinated effort appears to aim not only at breaching the blockade but also at influencing international opinion and policy.

While there has been no immediate formal response from Israel’s Foreign Ministry regarding Thunberg’s latest announcement, the Israel National News report recalled that during the June Madleen interception, ministry officials emphasized that the Gaza-bound aid aboard the vessel was minimal in quantity and could have been delivered through existing channels without attempting to breach the blockade.

Security officials have consistently maintained that such flotillas, even when carrying humanitarian supplies, pose a security risk because they could be used to transport contraband or provide cover for arms smuggling. The IDF Navy is expected to maintain its longstanding policy of intercepting any unauthorized vessel attempting to enter Gaza’s maritime zone.

The inclusion of multiple departure points and the coordination of over 44 countries in this latest effort suggest that the flotilla organizers are attempting to elevate the campaign beyond a localized or regional action. As the report at Israel National News has pointed out in prior reports, past flotilla attempts—such as the Mavi Marmara in 2010—have triggered significant diplomatic fallout and drawn sharp responses from Israel, even when the stated mission was humanitarian.

The decision to involve multiple ports and synchronized protests may be intended to increase the logistical complexity for Israeli naval forces and to maximize global media coverage. However, as seen in prior instances, Israel has routinely interdicted such missions before they could make landfall.

With the first stage of the flotilla scheduled to depart from Spain on August 31, Israeli defense planners will likely be monitoring the movement of participating vessels closely. The follow-up wave from Tunisia and other ports on September 4 could necessitate simultaneous naval operations in different areas of the eastern Mediterranean.

As Israel National News reported, this renewed campaign comes at a time of heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflict in Gaza, making the timing of the operation especially sensitive. The potential for diplomatic disputes, maritime confrontations, and intensified public relations campaigns will likely increase as the launch date approaches.