BARCELONA, Spain — A flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid and activists headed to Gaza that had departed Barcelona under much fanfare was forced back to port on Monday morning after a storm hit parts of Spain overnight.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of around 20 boats with participants from 44 countries, chose to return and delay its departure to “prioritize safety,” a statement said Monday.
Facing winds of over 56 kilometers per hour (35 miles per hour), some of the smaller boats taking part in the mission would have been at risk, it said.
The flotilla is the largest attempt yet to break the Israeli blockade of the coastal Palestinian territory by sea. It is carrying food, water and medicine. Israel and Egypt have blockaded Gaza since Hamas seized power from the Palestinian Authority in 2007 in a bid to stop the terror group importing weapons.
Activists on board demanded safe passage to deliver the symbolic aid and the opening of a humanitarian sea corridor, according to a statement.
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Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters had gathered under a scorching sun on the docks of Barcelona’s old port Sunday to cheer the mission as it took off.
Demonstrators shout slogans on a boat ahead of the launch of a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid in Barcelona, Spain, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP/Emilio Morenatti)
Spain’s national weather agency AEMET had issued warnings of rainfall and strong storms for the region of Catalonia, as well as other parts of Spain.
It was unclear when the maritime convoy would depart Barcelona again. Other boats are expected to join from across the Mediterranean in the coming days, including from Tunis and Sicily.
Among the participants on board are Swedish climate and anti-Israel activist Greta Thunberg and former mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau. The flotilla also received support from Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon and Liam Cunningham, known for his role in the HBO series “Game of Thrones.”
It is not the first time Thunberg has attempted to reach Gaza’s waters this year. Israel deported her in June after the Madleen, the ship she was traveling on with 11 other people, was stopped by the Israel Defense Forces.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, center left, waves from a boat taking part in a civilian flotilla bound for Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, in Barcelona, Spain, August 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
The flotilla’s departure comes as Israel has stepped up its offensive on Gaza City and prepares to capture the densely populated city in the northern part of the enclave. As part of its preparations, Jerusalem is planning to slow or halt humanitarian aid to the area, an Israeli official told the Associated Press on Saturday.
Food experts warned earlier this month that Gaza City had fallen into famine, and that half a million people across the Strip were facing catastrophic levels of hunger — claims that were swiftly rejected by Israel, which pointed to the thousands of tons of aide that has entered in recent months.
Israel has already blocked two attempts by activists to breach the naval blockade, in June and July.
In June, 12 activists on board the Madleen, from France, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands, were intercepted by Israeli forces 185 kilometers (115 miles) west of Gaza. They were detained and eventually expelled.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg boards the Madleen boat before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, June 1, 2025. (AP/Salvatore Cavalli)
The war in Gaza was triggered by an unprecedented cross-border attack by the Hamas terrorist organization into Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 62,000 people in the Strip have been killed or are presumed dead in the fighting so far, though the toll cannot be verified and does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
Israel says it killed over 22,000 combatants in battle as of August and another 1,600 terrorists inside Israel during the October 7 onslaught. Israel has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques.
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