GAZA/ PNN /
The Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise set sail on April 12 to support a civilian-led international flotilla seeking to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, in a mission organisers describe as peaceful and humanitarian.
According to organisers, the vessel is joining more than 70 boats forming what is known as the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” with the aim of delivering solidarity and drawing attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The Arctic Sunrise is expected to provide technical and operational maritime support, helping escort participating vessels across the Mediterranean before they approach Gaza’s coast.
The initiative comes amid ongoing international concern over humanitarian conditions in the enclave, where access to aid and movement has been severely restricted during and after the war.
Organisers say the flotilla represents a form of civilian action driven by the belief that public mobilisation is necessary when governments fail to uphold international law and protect civilian lives.
Previous flotillas and escalating tensions
The mission follows earlier attempts in 2024 and 2025 to challenge the blockade and highlight Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. In September 2025, a flotilla of 42 boats carrying 462 participants was intercepted by Israeli forces about 70 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast, according to organisers, who said communications were disrupted during the operation.
The 2026 flotilla, they say, builds on those efforts with a broader coalition and renewed calls for humanitarian access and accountability. Humanitarian crisis deepens The launch comes against the backdrop of a devastating war in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, figures cited by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicate that 71,439 Palestinians were killed and 171,324 injured between October 7, 2023, and January 14, 2026.
Displacement has also been widespread. By mid-February 2026, around 1.4 million people — out of a population of 2.1 million — had been displaced, many living in approximately 1,000 temporary sites.
Despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025, OCHA reported that hundreds of Palestinians have continued to be killed, with the number reaching 689 by late March 2026.
Aid workers and journalists have also been heavily affected. Amnesty International reported that at least 408 humanitarian workers have been killed since October 2023, including 280 staff from the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and 34 from the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
Press freedom organisations have described the conflict as the deadliest for journalists since records began, with around 200 journalists reported killed over 20 months.
Environmental toll of the war
Beyond the human cost, the war has also inflicted severe environmental damage. Analyses indicate that the first 120 days of the conflict generated approximately 536,410 tonnes of carbon emissions, with around 90% linked to Israeli military operations.
Reports also point to widespread contamination from heavy metals and significant damage to air, water and soil. By May 2024, an estimated 57% of Gaza’s agricultural land had been affected.
Environmental groups warn that such damage could have long-term consequences for public health, food systems and recovery efforts across the region. Calls for international action Gwaia Nakat, Executive Director of Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, said the mission aims to push for unrestricted humanitarian access and accountability.
“The destruction in Gaza has become part of a dangerous pattern of impunity,” she said in a statement, calling on governments to act to protect civilians, uphold international law and ensure the delivery of aid.
Greenpeace renewed calls for a sustained ceasefire, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, protection of civilians, and long-term recovery support, as well as an end to the occupation.
Organisers of the flotilla urged supporters worldwide to follow updates and amplify verified information about the mission, saying public attention remains key to maintaining pressure for humanitarian access and civilian protection.