Two French sailboats will depart from Marseille on April 4th to join a new international flotilla of around a hundred boats aiming to “break” the Israeli blockade and reach Gaza, as announced by the organizers on Monday, March 30th.
“Our message is primarily political,” stated Claude Léostic from the association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS) during a press conference, referring to an initiative of “solidarity with the Palestinian people who are under siege and blockade in Gaza.”
In the fall of 2025, a flotilla of around fifty boats, including political figures and activists such as Greta Thunberg from Sweden, was intercepted by the Israeli navy, deemed illegal by the organizers and Amnesty International. They were detained and expelled by Israel.
“These two French boats will also carry ‘medicines’ and ‘food’,” detailed Claude Léostic, alongside representatives of a coalition of around thirty members, including Urgence Palestine, Attac, Union syndicale Solidaires, federations of CGT, and La France insoumise.
“With 100 boats, we have a chance that some will pass through,” noted Claude Léostic. “And if some manage to pass and reach Gaza, symbolically it is extremely powerful, the blockade will have been broken,” she emphasized, adding, “Our Palestinian friends in Gaza tell us, ‘come, we are waiting for you.'”
“The flotilla is the strongest, most impactful movement in terms of media to keep Palestine on the international stage,” explained Meriem Hadjal from the organization “Waves of Freedom France”, who will sail towards Gaza at a time when the Middle East conflict is making headlines.
“This is not a pleasure cruise, it is a militant action that we are aware of the risks involved,” stressed Claude Léostic, in reference to the Israeli-American war against Iran and the conflict in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel.
“If the situation worsens in the Eastern Mediterranean, we could modify our route and deadlines,” she clarified. This French coalition, named “Flottille Liberté pour Gaza”, will join the flotillas of “Thousand Madleens” and “Global Sumud Flotilla.”
“We will sail together towards Gaza,” around April 20th, indicated Claude Léostic, mentioning a one-week stop in southern Italy beforehand for a “non-violence training.”
Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007. Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreed on October 10th, 2025, after two years of war. Accusations of genocide committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza have escalated, which Israel denies.
