⛵️ Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) Update, September 27: Over 42 Ships Depart Greece, for Gaza

⛵️ Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) Update, September 27: Over 42 Ships Depart Greece and Head Straight for Gaza, After Flagship Suffers Complete Engine Failure

On Saturday evening, around 10PM, 42 ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla–with vessels from Spain, Tunisia, Italy, and Greece–departed south of Crete from Greek territorial waters, where the coast guard provided protection for the past two nights after recent attacks on the Gaza-bound flotilla.

Organizers told Drop Site that a confirmed 532 participants are sailing in the final leg of the journey, which is expected to take five days and span 460 nautical miles. In three days, the ships will enter what organizers call “the orange zone,” the likeliest area for Israeli interception. Given the recent attacks on the flotilla, organizers have prepared the crews to be on high alert as soon as the ships enter international waters–in the next three to four hours.

Earlier today, Israel’s Foreign Ministry repeated on X its claim that the humanitarian mission is “all about provocation and serving Hamas.” The GSF Steering Committee told Drop Site that such threats will not deter the mission. At least two Italian naval vessels have pledged to assist in possible rescue missions, and a Spanish naval vessel is expected to join the flotilla tomorrow.

The flotilla has suffered setbacks and delays over the past two days due to additional security and safety measures after attacks between Italy and Greece. Its flagship, the Family boat, suffered what organizers described as “catastrophic engine failure” two nights ago. The engine could not be repaired, and while sabotage has not been ruled out, internal investigations so far have proved inconclusive.

A Turkish engineer was dispatched to the Family to determine the cause of the failure and help move the vessel out of Greek waters. The ship’s mechanic told Drop Site that when he inspected the engine he found that “all the oil was gone,” but did not make claims about the cause. At least two other boats required mechanical repairs in order to sail. With the Family boat decommissioned, at least 16 people had to be moved to other boats, with some leaving the mission due to discontent with the organization and its handling of the incident.

The Family boat remains stranded off the coast of Crete. Saif Abukeshek, a member of the steering committee, told Drop Site that “We have a captain with Family now and tomorrow [it] will go to port for checks to start.”

The Alma has now been appointed as the fleet’s flagship and is carrying the Steering Committee, while the Sirius-Haifa is second in command and hosts the largest number of participants, including most of the members of parliament. Previously forecasted storms no longer threaten the route, but crews still anticipate rough waters.

🎥 Watch: Sirius-Haifa political coordinator Bruno Gilga addresses the crew, including the new additions, and reviews security protocols in case of attack or interception.

Report and video by Drop Site’s Alex Colston