Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg’s latest attempt to reach Gaza by sea ended only hours after it began.
A large aid flotilla carrying food, medicine, humanitarian aid, and activists from several countries turned back to Spain on Sunday after facing worsening weather conditions in the Mediterranean.
The convoy, called the Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising about 20 boats, set sail from Barcelona at 4 p.m. local time.
Highlights
- Greta Thunberg's Global Sumud Flotilla with 20 boats turned back to Spain due to 30-knot Mediterranean storm winds for safety reasons.
- The flotilla carried tons of humanitarian aid aiming to challenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and pressure European governments.
- Israel reportedly planned to detain Thunberg and activists as terrorists in harsh prison camps like Ktzi'ot and Damon if flotilla reached Gaza.
Greta Thunberg’s aid flotilla returned to Spain within hours because of bad weather
Image credits: Mario Wurzburger/Getty Images
The organizers said the mission carried tons of humanitarian supplies for civilians in Gaza and aimed to challenge Israel’s long-standing naval blockade of the territory.
“Due to unsafe weather conditions, we conducted a sea trial and then returned to port to allow the storm to pass,” the group said in a statement Monday.
“This meant delaying our departure to avoid risking complications with the smaller boats.”
The mission was facing “over 30-knot winds,” leading the group to “prioritize the safety and wellbeing” of participants.
The captains of the boats were set to meet later on Monday to decide if they will continue their journey.
Those on board included Thunberg, former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, Barcelona councillor Jordi Coronas, and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham.
Organizers and supporters described the flotilla as the largest effort yet to reach Gaza by sea. Delegations from more than 44 countries joined the mission.
Image credits: Freedom Flotilla Coalition
The goal for the activists is to deliver aid to Palestine and pressure European governments to reconsider their ties with Israel.
Human rights groups have long argued that the blockade, in place since 2007, has worsened living conditions in Gaza. The UN reported 227 Palestinian deaths from malnutrition as of August 2025.
International agencies warn that Gaza is facing famine. Israel has denied that it is using starvation as a weapon.
Israel has also made clear it will not allow ships to reach Gaza. Defense Minister Israel Katz said earlier this year that the navy would act to stop any flotilla.
The humanitarian aid boat aimed to pressure governments to reconsider their ties with Israel
Image credits: Lorena Sopena/Getty Images
“I have instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act so that the hate flotilla does not reach the shores of Gaza—and to take all necessary measures to that end,” he said during Thunberg’s first attempt to sail to Gaza in June,
“To the antisemitic Greta and her friends who echo Hamas propaganda, I say clearly: You’d better turn back–because you will not reach Gaza. Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or to assist terrorist organizations – by sea, by air, and by land,” Katz added.
This time around, Israel is reportedly planning to throw Thunberg in a terror cell.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly drew up plans to treat flotilla activists as supporters of terrorism that would see Thunberg detained in a terrorist prison, according to Israel Hayom newspaper.
Image credits: Kike Rincon/Getty Images
He is planning to present Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the detention plan to keep the activists in the Ktzi'ot prison camp and the Damon detention center.
The Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said last month that Palestinian women have endured inhuman conditions in the Damon prison, including no exposure to sunlight and a lack of hygiene products.
Their vessels would also be seized and used to establish a “maritime force for police operations,” according to the plans.
“This project is part of a global uprising of people standing up,” Thunberg said before departing.
“When our governments fail to step up, the people will take their place, and their atrocities and their complicity in the genocide in Gaza right now ... is not something that we can stand for.”
Israel had plans to detain Thunberg in a terror cell
Image credits: Ali Jadallah/Getty Images
Israeli forces intercepted the vessel in international waters, and the activists were sprayed with irritants by drones before Israeli troops boarded the ship.
Thunberg was detained and deported, while some other passengers were held in Israeli custody. A French doctor who was also aboard the ship reported that Thunberg was mistreated by the Israeli authorities.
The passengers, but especially Thunberg, were not allowed to sleep. Israeli agents would turn up the music and dance if anyone fell asleep. He also claimed that passengers had a hard time getting food and water while in custody.
Irish actor Liam Cunningham also addressed the press in Barcelona in a news conference before their departure. He played a video of a Palestinian girl speaking about her own funeral plans before she died. The girl, Fatima, died four days ago, he said.
“What sort of world have we slid into where children are making their own funeral arrangements?” he asked.