It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Friday, October 03, 2025
“If You Are Watching This It Means I Have Been Violently Intercepted By Israeli Authorities”
Minutes ago, Israeli Occupation Forces began their violent interception of the 52-vessel Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters as it approached Palestine carrying critical humanitarian aid for Gaza’s starving population.
Progressive International co-General Coordinator David Adler, who sailed towards the besieged enclave on board the Ohwayla sailboat, is among the hundreds of crew members who are currently being abducted.
In the coming hours and days, little will be known about the abductees’ whereabouts as they are processed. Israeli officials have hinted at severe consequences. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has referred to the mission as the “Hamas Flotilla”, laying the groundwork for a punishing response.
Fearing a repeat of the massacre carried out by Israeli naval commandos on the Turkish MV Mavi Marmara in 2010, which killed nine activists in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, Italy, Spain and Turkey deployed naval escorts to accompany the Flotilla. But they were ultimately unprepared to enter into a confrontation with Israeli forces in defence of the mission and its participants — with Italy using its vessel in an attempt to demobilise the Flotilla and Spain abandoning the “accompaniment” as the Flotilla entered the so-called “red zone”, an arbitrary boundary defined by Israeli forces.
The Flotilla’s humanitarian mission comes at a critical time. In August, the United Nations declared a famine in Gaza. More than half a million Palestinians face catastrophic levels of hunger, while Israeli bombs continue to fall on the starving population. A renewed ground invasion has once again escalated the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians. Authorities in Gaza report over 10,000 new deaths and 45,000 injuries since the collapse of the ceasefire in March — numbers that represent a significant underestimate of the true devastation.
At stake now are not just the lives of the Palestinian people, but our collective future. Israel’s genocide seeks to destroy the very possibility that Palestinian sovereignty might assert itself, crippling an entire nation into permanent submission.
If this impunity is allowed to prevail, it will deliver a dark message. For elites across the Global South, it will show that even genocide — carried out in the interests of empire — offers a safer path than resistance. For the world’s oppressed, it will show that imperialism can and will exterminate those who seek their liberation.
That is why the Global Sumud Flotilla is so critical. Moral outrage and words of condemnation no longer suffice. What is needed is organisation — determined, disciplined and coordinated action to break the blockade and sever the chains of complicity that sustain the occupation of Palestine.
Every movement can play a role. In an emergency appeal posted on social media, Progressive International Co-General Coordinator David Adler called on the solidarity of progressive forces all around the world.
“We are issuing a call to parties, unions, movements that are part of our great network to mobilise,” he said. “Not just in defence of this flotilla, but in defence of humanitarian law, in defence of the humanitarian workers in Gaza, and of course to put an end to this horrific genocide.”
The Flotilla may have been intercepted, but it remains our collective responsibility to escalate our struggle to defend humanity.
Touch one, touch all: Brazil must protect its citizens on the Global Sumud Flotilla
The next 24 hours will be decisive. As the genocide of the Palestinian people continues to spark outrage across the globe, the Global Sumud Flotilla — the largest humanitarian initiative of its kind — continues moving towards the waters of Gaza.
After departing from Barcelona, passing through Tunisia, and arriving in Greece to set sail to its final destination, and enduring all manner of sabotage, international harassment and drone attacks, the flotilla has now become a global phenomenon.
The flotilla, led by Greta Thunberg from Sweden, Thiago Ávila from Brazil, and other Palestinian activists, is carrying food, medicine and other humanitarian aid supplies, with the clear aim of breaking the Zionist siege on Gaza.
Onboard are parliamentarians from Europe and Latin America, such as Mariana Mortágua of Portugal’s Left Bloc and Celeste Fierro of the Socialist Workers’ Movement (MST) of Argentina. There are also 16 Brazilian activists on board: three comrades from the Socialist Left Movement/Socialism and Liberty Party (MES/PSOL), Mariana Conti (PSOL Campinas City Councilor), Gabi Tolloti (PSOL president in Rio Grande do Sul), and Nico Calabrese (Emancipa Network coordinator and crew member); as well as Luizianne Lins (Workers’ Party parliamentarian), Mohamed Kadri (Palestinian Forum leader), Bruno Gilga and Magno Carvalho (of the University of Sao Paulo Workers Union, Sintusp), and other activists.
The Zionist State of Israel has promised to intercept the flotilla in the coming days and hours, accusing it of terrorism. It has used all kinds of psychological torture and threats against it. It wants to prevent outrage over the worst genocide in the 21st century spilling over into international solidarity and support.
Demonstrations that have swept the world have brought down governments and ensured popular pressure prevailed: when Spain rose up, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was forced to send the Furor and announced several trade embargoes against the State of Israel; after a general strike over Gaza paralysed Italy, the far-right government was also forced to send a ship to the Greek coast to accompany the flotilla. Other countries, such as Turkey and Greece, are talking about doing the same. The world’s eyes are on Gaza.
The United Nations assembly was a stark illustration of the current political tensions: Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s speech, an example of how to criticise US President Donald Trump, denouncing the live-streamed genocide in Gaza; the withdrawal by delegations in protest at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intervention; and, finally, Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s heroic intervention, defending the need for the world to stop the genocide and even calling for a volunteer army to fight in defence of Palestine. For this statement and his subsequent participation in a demonstration in support of Gaza, Petro had his visa suspended and is now barred from returning to the United States. The UN was a portrait of the global situation.
Yesterday afternoon, after several hours of meeting, Trump and Netanyahu held a media conference announcing an “agreement” and urging Hamas to accept it or face the consequences of a “final solution.”
The agreement was met with outrage from Palestinian activists and resistance fighters, as well as from the English left, who denounced former British PM Tony Blair’s stance, pointing to him as politically responsible for the new phase of the occupation.
For now, we must continue to mobilise in Brazil, supporting the flotilla members whose lives are at grave risk. The Italian and Spanish military boats did not cross into the red zone (150 miles from the final destination), which the flotilla vessels must pass through to reach Gaza with its humanitarian aid. We need to continue to demand that Brazil’s foreign ministry protects them, in line with the open letters being promoted by parliamentarians and the Global Sumud Flotilla. Let us follow the example of the Italian dockworkers and students who have already stated: if you touch the Flotilla, we will blockade everything.
The Brazilian student movement has called for vigils and actions on October 2. The Palestinian Front has called for large-scale events this weekend, particularly October 5.
Brazilian universities are mobilised. Following student sit-ins, Unicamp and the Fluminense Federal University cut commercial and academic relations with the State of Israel.
The world’s eyes are on Gaza. And the eyes of Brazil are on the flotilla. Brazil must take responsibility for its citizens, ensuring their safety, repatriation and physical integrity.
We will continue to support the Palestinian-led and organised fight for a free Palestine — from the river to the sea!
The genocide of the Palestinian people has entered another grim phase with Israel’s assault on Gaza City, and the governments of the world are doing nothing meaningful to stop the slaughter. The genocide is the greatest crime of our generation, and it has fallen to the people of the world to take to the streets and do whatever they can to support the Palestinian struggle, to spread the news that the media keeps quiet, to pressure governments into doing something, and to disrupt Israel’s colonial war-machine. The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is one such popular movement in solidarity with Palestine, the largest fleet of civilian aid ships ever to set sail, attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and bring supplies to starving Gazans. The Flotilla has already been targeted by Israel, so far suffering two firebomb attacks by drones against its ships as they docked in a Tunisian harbour. Sadly, these are unlikely to be the only dangers the Flotilla will face as it approaches Gaza.
In order to find out more about the GSF and to bring more news of it to a Scottish audience, Jennifer Debs spoke with Nico Calabrese, an Argentinian-Brazilian activist who came to Europe specifically to join the flotilla.
Who are you and what made you join the Global Sumud Flotilla?
“Well, I am Nico. In Brazil I am a physical education teacher, a Spanish teacher and a militant of a social movement for popular education called “Emancipa” that helps working class people enter university. Brazilian universities are very elitist, and we help youth to enter the public universities, and the private ones too. I am also a militant of the left socialist movement, Movimento Esquerda Socialista (MES). It’s a revolutionary socialist organisation, part of the Fourth International.
What made me join the Global Sumud Flotilla is that, everyday I wake up with indignation taking over my whole body, my whole mind and thoughts, and I couldn’t accept living in the same world in which a genocide is happening- The hunger of lots of people, children, and civil society being dehumanised like this. So when the opportunity for joining the Global Sumud Flotilla appeared for me, it was obvious that I had to participate.”
What is the Global Sumud Flotilla?
“The Global Sumud Flotilla is one of many, many attempts at breaking the siege of Gaza with humanitarian aid. There were many attempts at trying to carry donations, food, medicine for Palestinian people through land, sea and air, and Israel has blocked them for many years. Israel doesn’t allow that help to arrive in Palestine. Other attempts by land or sea were attacked or just blocked, and this is another attempt to enter with humanitarian aid for Palestinian people. They are suffering this siege and genocide.
For the Global Sumud Flotilla, the important thing is that it is the combination of four big movements in solidarity with Palestine: The Global Movement to Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla, Sumud Nusantara and the North African Organisation for Solidarity with Palestine. It’s an important thing that it’s the union of such different movements. They made this union for being one of the biggest flotillas and biggest movements for aiding Palestine.”
What is it like taking part in the Flotilla with activists from so many different countries?
“Being part of the Flotilla is, for me, an honour, because I think that when I see the genocide, someone has to do something about it. And we see that governments aren’t doing anything or just taking legal measures. So I think that if they don’t do anything, then the people have to do something.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is the organisation of the people of many countries, many cultures, many religions, together for one goal- That is a human goal, an important goal, to stop the dehumanisation of human beings. The experience of sharing this mission with many different activists of many different countries is just awesome. There are lots of socialist militants, lots of people from organisations, but also people that don’t participate in organisations too. But in this movement they are very dedicated, very sure about their participation, about risking their lives, and that’s awesome because it’s not just the militants that are participating, it’s regular people too, and they have stopped their daily lives just to join this movement.”
Why do you believe that the Flotilla’s mission is important?
“I think the Flotilla is important not just for carrying the humanitarian aid and opening a humanitarian corridor for other ships and other governments and NGOs to donate and carry aid, but also because it makes, with famous people and activists from many parts of the world, it makes the Palestinian situation more visible. More people in the world are knowing what’s happening day after day in Palestine because the media companies, the majority don’t talk about Palestine. So this movement is making more people talk about Palestine, not just people participating in the movement, but regular people in different countries. I’m seeing that a lot: People saying ‘Let’s talk about Palestine’ in their families and our jobs. I think that’s the importance of this mission.”
What dangers do you expect to face, or are already facing?
“This is a dangerous mission, but it shouldn’t have to be a dangerous mission. Because we are a legal movement and a peaceful movement, we shouldn’t have to face any dangers.
But we are facing dangers because Israel is planning the hunger of the Palestinian people, planning the extermination of the whole Palestinian people. It’s not me who is saying this- Israel is saying this, in their discourse that they won’t allow a Palestinian state, and that they will make the last invasion of Palestine.
So this mission is not good for the terror plans of Israel, and they want to stop solidarity with Palestine. They want to stop us in any way they can. That’s the danger- We can be intercepted, we can be attacked, but we can’t accept the Palestinian situation”
What does solidarity with Palestine mean for social movements back home in Brazil?
“This movement is an important thing to be reproduced in countries like Brazil. We are far away from Palestine, and when I arrived in Europe I saw that the Palestinian genocide is more discussed and talked about by the people here. But in Brazil we are not so near, and the indifference and the fact that the media is not talking about it, gives the idea that it’s not happening or that it’s not important. So reproducing Palestine solidarity and building the social movements in all the spaces that we can is very important for Brazil.”
Where can people in Scotland find out news about the Flotilla and how can they support it and show solidarity with it?
“To find news about the Flotilla you can follow the Global Sumud Flotilla on Instagram, and on their website. My Instagram is @niconiqito.
To support the Flotilla, the best thing is to talk about Palestine in your families, in your jobs, in your schools, your colleges, and if you don’t know how to bring it up, you could speak about the Flotilla- The Flotilla is a good way to speak about Palestine. It’s got people from more than 44 countries carrying humanitarian aid and being attacked for that. It’s a good way to show how Palestinian people are dying of hunger, dying from bombs.
Another way is to boycott. I have recently discovered an app called No Thanks. You can scan a product, and it can tell if it has Israeli investment involved in that product. So you can choose a product that doesn’t finance the genocide.”
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As this article goes online (23 September), Nico and the other activists from the Flotilla will be sailing across the Mediterranean, headed for Gaza and an uncertain result. We do not know how the Israeli state will respond to this latest attempt at breaking the blockade, but the treatment of previous aid flotillas and the recent drone attacks on the GSF should make us alert to the danger faced by the Flotilla. In just the last few days, yet more drones have been spotted above Flotilla vessels. Much is at stake, but as Nico says, “we can’t accept the Palestinian situation.” Israel is committing a genocide and action must be taken to stop it.
We at Heckle stand in total solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla, and we also support the calls of Italian trade unions for strikes across Europe, should contact between the Flotilla and the mainland be lost. These are not empty threats- The Italian workers have already shown admirable determination to fight for Palestine, with the port of Ravenna blocking a shipment of explosives bound for Israel following action by dock-workers, along with the 24-hour general strike for Gaza that saw Italy brought to a halt on Monday. We need to see more action like this all across the world, especially in the imperialist powers. Will the trade unions of France, Germany and the UK listen to their Italian siblings and defend the Global Sumud Flotilla? Will they challenge the arms trade with Israel and force their governments to take more than symbolic actions? Let the courage of the Italian workers, and Flotilla sailors like Nico Calabrese, be an inspiration to us all.
Nico Calabrese Nico Calabrese took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Jennifer Debs Jennifer Debs writes for Heckle, a publication of the Republican Socialist Platform in Scotland. International Viewpoint is published under the responsibility of the Bureau of the Fourth International. Signed articles do not necessarily reflect editorial policy. Articles can be reprinted with acknowledgement, and a live link if possible.
Global Sumud Flotilla leaves Barcelona to challenge Gaza blockade
Moments ago, the Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) was violently intercepted by Israeli Occupation Forces.
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