E. Mark Windle

As winter approaches, Refugee Biriyani & Bananas reflects on the various activities undertaken this year. One notable highlight of 2025 has been the participation by our founder and CEO, Ruhi Akhtar, in the Global Sumud Flotilla’s mission to deliver aid to the people of Gaza. In this month’s newsletter, we explore the origins of the flotilla movement, the challenges faced by those who have sailed in previous attempts to reach Gaza, and Ruhi’s unforgettable experience in this summer’s mission.

Of all the civilian flotilla efforts to form a humanitarian corridor and break Israel’s siege on Gaza, the summer of 2025 has seen the largest. With collective fleets amounting to around 50 ships and over 500 participants, the Global Sumud Flotilla is a display of true solidarity, demonstrated not only by the scale of the operation, but also by the support of those at the ports, and of the world who has been following the journey on social media and in the press.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is among the latest in a history of such missions stretching over 15 years. One of the earliest was the 2008 Free Gaza Movement, when 2 boats carrying aid were able to reach Gaza. In 2010 the Gaza Freedom Flotilla was established: a partnership between the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief (IHH). That attempt to deliver aid and building materials was stopped by Israeli forces when they raided the boats, killing 9 activists and wounding 30 others. Although subsequent flotillas have been unable to reach Gaza’s beaches due to sabotage and interception by the Israeli authorities, they have kept the world’s focus on the struggle of the people of Palestine and the continued oppression by Israel.

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla / Freedom Flotilla Coalition

In early May 2025 the Conscience vessel, which was carrying aid and up to 30 human rights activists, was intercepted by drones around 30km off the Maltese coast. The following month, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla reattempted to deliver infant milk formula, rice, flour and medical equipment. Activists on the Madleen vessel included Greta Thunberg, French politician Rima Hassan and 10 others. On 9 June, Israeli forces seized the boat and detained the participants in Israel before deportation. A third attempt was made in July by the Handala but was raided again in international waters.

The Global Sumud Flotilla

More than 500 civilians from 5 continents and nearly 50 countries joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, a coalition of existing movements. Like previous ones, this was a non-violent civilian intention to break the siege, deliver 300 tons of humanitarian aid, and to keep the world’s eyes on the genocide in Gaza. Additionally, this mission was to be a response to government inertia regarding active intervention in support of the people of Palestine, and in many cases, their refusal to call out genocide.

The flotilla’s name reflected the coalition’s cause—sumud in Arabic means steadfastness, perseverance or resilience. Participants came from a range of backgrounds including sailing crew, activists, medical and legal staff, journalists, politicians, public figures—and Refugee Biriyani & Bananas CEO and founder Ruhi Akhtar. Commencing from late August, vessels were scheduled to depart from ports in Spain, Italy and Tunisia. Some were allocated to break the blockade in Gaza territorial waters. Others had supportive and observer responsibilities. All were united in the same aim.

Ruhi joined the flotilla from the port at Tunis. After some intense safety training and packing food and medical aid on board, Ruhi and her 20 companions were ready to set sail. Bad weather, technical issues and drone attacks on the Family leader boat created a temporary delay in departure, but by mid-September Ruhi’s boat, Summertime-Jong, was heading toward the first port of call at Sicily.

“Summertime-Jong was designated as an observer vessel”, says Ruhi. “Our job was to monitor the rest of the fleet for Israeli violations, to keep notes and to make reports which could inform future legal cases. Summertime-Jong also had a role as a mother boat. It was responsible for carrying extra water, fuel, and equipment and to assist boats in distress. The boat was carrying people from Malaysia, Palestine, the UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Italy, South Africa, Maldives, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey and Morocco. We saw that diversity as our strength. United in action, we were adding our voices to the call for freedom and justice for the people of Palestine and Gaza.”

Drone attacks

While in Sicily assisting other boats in distress, news came that further drone attacks had targeted five boats sailing ahead of the Summertime-Jong. Although no boats were damaged beyond repair, this was a clear attempt at psychological warfare, and an illegal assault in international waters—the flotilla had no weapons, only aid. Messages were sent via social media to lobby local politicians, highlighting that governments urgently needed to respond to ensure the safety of their citizens.

“By the end of the month we were a few hundred nautical miles from Gaza. This was the first time we could see a full stretch of vessels pushing forward together as one. It gave us a chance to catch up with Alma, the boat that was carrying the activist Thiago Àvila and Mandla Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s grandson.”

_{Ruhi with Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg}

In the red zone

These were heartening but unnerving times. By 1 October, the flotilla was nearing 100 nautical miles off Gaza’s coastline. This was the zone where the Madleen and Handala were stopped in previous attempts.

“We received news that Alma and Sirius had their communication systems damaged. There was also further psychological intimidation from an Israeli vessel. None of us knew what was in store. There was little sleep that night, but we held onto the thought that the people of Gaza were waiting for us, that the genocide was ongoing, and that anything we were experiencing was nothing compared to what they experience every day.”

Almost inevitably, Israeli military forces intensified their activities:

“A number of vessels were intercepted late in the night. Communication with hundreds of our friends had been lost. We had to assume that they had been kidnapped in international waters and were now likely to be in detention. The decision was made to redirect Summertime-Jong to Cyprus. We had Palestinian friends on board, and their capture could have resulted in them spending decades in prison. With Summertime-Jong as a mother ship, we also had a responsibility to liaise with others on land in the demand for the release of our colleagues from detention.”

Between 1-3 October, Israeli forces raided 42 boats carrying food, baby formula and medical aid, and detained those on board. Meanwhile, some of the remaining vessels pushed ahead. The Mikeno reached around 9 miles from the Gazan shoreline—closer than any flotilla boat has achieved in recent years.

 _{Ref: EFE / Toni Albir}

The extent of the interception was soon clear to all, with 462 participants detained. Most reported receiving hostile treatment, including being held in poor prison conditions, subjected to beatings and verbal humiliation, and deprived of basic liberties. As expected, the Israeli authorities denied all this. In Cyprus, Ruhi and her team worked with colleagues to amplify the request for urgent release of those held captive. A few days later, once back home, she was able to greet some of the first detainees who were deported to the UK.

World solidarity

For all involved, there was always an awareness that the flotilla may not succeed in its aim of reaching Gaza. But the overall mission was far from a failure. The Global Sumud Flotilla has been an important reminder that global solidarity still exists and can be a powerful force. That solidarity has pushed governments, authorities and the public into action. A huge wave of spontaneous demonstrations took place in Madrid, Naples, Rome and other European cities in support of the flotilla and to demand the end of Israel’s siege. In Italy, there was a national strike. Dockworkers even shut down ports in an attempt to block the shipment of arms to Israel.

And for Ruhi, there is the knowledge that, while Israeli forces were busy blocking the passage of the flotilla, the fishermen of Gaza were able to evade the maritime ban imposed by Israel. For at least one day, possibly more, they could freely cast their nets and provide for their families.