Spain to Send Warship to Support Gaza-Bound Sumud Flotilla

Sánchez announced the decision at a press conference in New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly. He said the Spanish vessel would leave Cartagena on Thursday, and called for international law to be respected and Spanish citizens to be able to navigate the Mediterranean safely. Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said earlier Wednesday that an Italian naval ship had been dispatched to assist Italian participants after an overnight drone attack.

The flotilla left Barcelona more than three weeks ago. Its name means “perseverance” in Arabic, and its roughly 50 boats carry hundreds of people from dozens of countries. Organizers say the peaceful mission aims to deliver humanitarian aid and break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Last week, 16 foreign ministers, including Spain’s José Manuel Albares, warned Israel against attacking the convoy. Albares had also pledged Spain would respond to violations of participants’ freedom of movement and expression, and of international law.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the recent drone attacks, although the source reports that it is widely believed to be responsible. David Adler, a Progressive International co-general coordinator taking part in the flotilla, described the latest incident to Jacobin as “the largest and most terrifying attack yet.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry has questioned the flotilla’s purpose and linked it to Hamas, which Israel and the United States designate as a terrorist organization. The ministry said aid could instead be unloaded at a port in a nearby country for transfer to Gaza, adding that Israel would not allow vessels into an active combat zone or permit a breach of what it called a lawful naval blockade.

The deployments drew support from human rights lawyer Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, who urged other countries to send vessels. British writer Owen Jones questioned whether Israel would risk a confrontation with a European nation, while Current Affairs editor in chief Nathan J. Robinson called Spain’s move “a good start.”

Gaza’s local officials said Wednesday that Israel’s assault had killed at least 65,419 Palestinians and wounded 167,160; global experts believe the tolls are undercounts. Sánchez has called recognition of Palestine a crucial step toward a two-state solution, while Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged the UN General Assembly to invoke the United for Peace resolution and send an armed protection force to Gaza.