‘Maghreb al-Soumoud Flotilla’ Is Preparing to Set Sail for Gaza: But Will It Make It?

The “Maghreb al-Soumoud Flotilla” is moving swiftly to set sail for Gaza, in an effort to breach “Israel’s” ongoing blockade of the strip, described by many as a campaign of systematic destruction against its population.

In a Facebook post dated July 25, 2025, organizers called on citizens from across the Maghreb region to register for participation in the maritime mission, aimed at challenging the siege and delivering a message of solidarity.

“This initiative arises from the global groundswell of support for the Palestinian cause and the legendary resilience of the Palestinian people on their own land,” the flotilla said in a statement.

The flotilla also framed its call as a rejection of what it described as the “brutal Zionist war” and as a continuation of the first joint initiative, referring to the overland of al-Soumoud Convoy or the  “Caravan of Steadfastness.”

The Caravan, a humanitarian al-Soumoud convoy that set off from Tunisia towards Gaza in mid-June 2025, was brought to a halt at the gates of Sirte in eastern Libya. 

According to participants, the convoy faced what they described as “harassment” by eastern Libyan forces, including detentions, deprivation of food, and physical assaults.

Organizers further stated that efforts to obtain entry permits into Egyptian territory ultimately failed, despite formal communication with the Egyptian embassy in Tunis, an impasse that prevented al-Soumoud convoy from reaching the besieged Gaza Strip.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation, backed by the United States, has waged what rights groups and international observers have described as a campaign of genocide in Gaza, marked by mass killings, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement. 

The assault has continued in defiance of international appeals and binding orders from the International Court of Justice calling for its halt.

The ongoing onslaught has left more than 194,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them women and children, with over 10,000 reported missing. 

Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, while famine conditions have claimed countless lives, including those of dozens of children.

Humanitarian Initiative

Wael Nawar, a member of the Coordinating Committee for Joint Action for Palestine, confirmed that the “Maghreb al-Soumoud Flotilla” would include participants from across the Maghreb, forming a united front of solidarity alongside volunteers from around the world.

Speaking to Ultra Tunisia on July 25, Nawar noted that the initiative would involve “dozens of ships setting off from across the globe.”

He added that registration would be open to activists, citizens, and anyone wishing to take part in the flotilla aimed at breaking the siege on Gaza.

The Mauritanian representative of the convoy, MP and Tewassoul party member Mourtada Tfeil, said the initiative was a response to both “a religious and moral duty,” and a reflection of Maghrebi solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of aggression and blockade.

Speaking to the Mauritanian outlet Essirage on July 27, 2025, Tfeil said the coordinating committee had reached out to a number of national figures, professional unions, and civil society activists in preparation for a meaningful Mauritanian contribution to the flotilla.

He confirmed that participation in the initiative is open to all Mauritanians, adding that a broader coordination team will be announced in the coming days, along with details and mechanisms for joining the mission.

Tfeil reiterated his call to resist any moves that might undermine the national consensus in Mauritania around supporting the Palestinian resistance.

He also urged the suspension of the Mauritanian parliamentary friendship group with the United States, arguing that maintaining such ties amid American backing for the war on Gaza constitutes “an affront to the conscience of humanity” and a blatant disregard for the suffering of a people facing death, hunger, and siege.

“The free peoples of the world cannot remain silent in the face of the daily crimes committed against civilians in Gaza,” he said, calling on the Mauritanian parliament to rise to the occasion during what he described as a “defining moment.”

Organizational Procedures

Meanwhile, civil society activists in Mauritania issued a national call urging broad support for the Maghreb al-Soumoud Flotilla and ensuring the country’s active and meaningful representation in what they described as a growing regional effort. 

The call comes at a time, they said, when the world is in urgent need of principled stances from free peoples to shatter the wall of silence and international complicity.

The activists appealed to all segments of society to rally behind the initiative, which aims to secure Mauritania’s participation in the flotilla currently being prepared to sail toward Gaza as part of a grassroots effort to break the years-long blockade of the strip.

In a statement, they stressed that the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with famine deepening and attacks continuing, demands urgent action from the world’s free peoples, particularly in light of the “deafening silence of official Arab institutions” and the failure of regional governments to uphold their moral responsibilities.

Wael Nawar, of the Coordinating Committee for Joint Action for Palestine, said preparations for the Maghreb al-Soumoud Flotilla’s participation in the global effort to break the siege on Gaza are tied to an international gathering scheduled to take place in Tunisia from August 1 to 4, 2025.

Speaking to Jawhara FM on July 27, Nawar said Tunisia will host representatives from a range of global initiatives, including the Maghreb al-Soumoud Flotilla, the Global March to Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla, and the East Asia Coalition of NGOs, which brings together civil society groups from eight countries.

Nawar noted that August 2 and 3 have been set aside for training sessions led by members of the Freedom Flotilla, aimed at preparing leaders from the four participating initiatives, as well as Tunisian volunteers, for maritime participation in the mission and for potential scenarios involving detention or arrest.

He added that August 4 will be dedicated to a press conference, during which organizers will announce the official launch date of the flotilla, which is expected to comprise dozens of vessels departing simultaneously from across the Mediterranean. 

The event will also reveal the planned route and full logistical details of the mission.

Multiple Messages

Marouan Ben Guettaia, a member of the Maghreb Coordinating Committee for the al-Soumoud Convoy, stressed that “the situation in Gaza is dire and calls for a popular mobilization to support efforts to break the siege,  which is why the idea of the Maghreb al-Soumoud Flotilla was born.”

Speaking to Al-Estiklal, Ben Guettaia explained that the flotilla forms part of the global al-Soumoud Flotilla network, working alongside various bodies to unify efforts toward the shared goal of supporting the people of Gaza and breaking the blockade.

He highlighted the historical connection between the peoples of the Maghreb and Palestine, noting the significance of “the Moroccan Gate” and “the Moroccan Quarter” in Jerusalem, which imbues the Palestinian cause with a central place in the collective consciousness of the Maghreb region.

Ben Guettaia affirmed that "this initiative will not be the last; it will be followed by others, as long as the issue of occupation and the blockade persists in Gaza and Palestine as a whole."

"The number of participants in the flotilla will not be large, as small vessels will be used, but efforts are currently underway to expand participation by doubling the number of boats," Ben Guettaia said.

Regarding participant criteria, the member of the Maghreb al-Soumoud Flotilla Committee stated that the primary condition is for volunteers to have a prior record of support for Palestine and to have played an active role in advancing the cause on the ground.

He pointed out that the previous Land al-Soumoud Convoy had broken through the barriers of silence and neglect, even if it did not succeed in lifting the blockade, emphasizing that it engaged with the challenges and crises it faced in a dignified manner.

Today, Ben Guettaia added, an international committee is coordinating efforts regarding al-Soumoud Flotilla, with daily discussions underway to set a suitable departure date, which will be announced on August 4, 2025.

“As for the flotilla’s route towards the shores of the occupied territories, the operation relies on experts and individuals with experience in this matter,” he continued.

Ben Guettaia noted that Spain and Italy have declared their support for the global initiative, with influential figures from East Asian countries also announcing their participation, alongside backing from the Maghreb region.

He described the Global al-Soumoud Flotilla as “a universal message from free peoples, aimed at breaking the blockade and halting the acts of genocide committed by the Israeli regime against Palestine.”

He concluded by saying that “the Maghreb’s participation in the global flotilla is a continuation of the legacy of the fighters and martyrs who liberated our countries last century from French, Spanish, and Italian occupation.”

The Hanzala Ship

These calls from the Maghreb come in the wake of the Israeli occupation’s seizure of the ship Hanzala and the deportation of human rights activists supporting the Palestinian cause who were on board, including Moroccan journalist Mohamed el Bakkali from Al Jazeera.

El-Bakkali arrived at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca on July 29, 2025, where he was greeted by prominent figures in Morocco’s Palestinian solidarity movement.

In a statement to the press on the occasion, el-Bakkali said, “The scale of solidarity I have received explains why Moroccans have a street and neighborhood named after them in Jerusalem, unlike other countries.”

He expressed his gratitude to all for the overwhelming support, emphasizing that this solidarity reflects a collective commitment to the Palestinian cause, not just to the ship or those on board.

El-Bakkali affirmed that “the Palestinian cause is a human one. That is why the Hanzala carried people of ten different nationalities, from diverse religions, colors, and backgrounds, but united by the Palestinian cause.”

“That is why we say it is enough to simply be human to stand with this cause,” he said.

Regarding the actions of the occupying authorities, el Bakkali asserted that their behavior confirms they are dealing with a rogue state, noting that participants in the voyage “were subjected to poor treatment, heard abusive language, and endured psychological pressure and intimidation.”

He praised the foreign defenders of the cause, saying, “They made two important efforts, first, an intellectual effort to understand the Palestinian issue, and second, a psychological one, as they risk marginalization and family estrangement because of their stance. Yet despite this, they remain steadfast.”