by Leonid Tsukanov
[REGNUM] The global flotilla Sumud (Fortitude), led by a group of European activists including, for example, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, is getting closer to the Gaza Strip.
During this time, pro-Palestinian activists have encountered numerous challenges, including the elements, technical problems, and the threat of drones, but they have maintained their "course of determination." This time, the flotilla's leadership intends to reach the shores of Gaza, "no matter the cost."
In practice, however, the situation is not so clear-cut. A rift has emerged within Sumud's leadership: the project's veterans and the younger generation find themselves on opposite sides of the fence. And the international scandals plaguing the fleet are causing far more damage than the anonymous drones.
MEETINGS IN ALGERIA
The flotilla had barely left Tunisia, where it was forced to delay for almost a week due to an attack by an unidentified drone on its flagship, when it was caught in a serious media scandal en route.
regnum.ru still hasn't gotten the memo, apparently...
It turned out that several activists had visited neighboring Algeria during their stay, where they met with representatives of unnamed Palestinian humanitarian organizations. Arab bloggers later identified them as local Hamas coordinators. One of them bore a striking resemblance to the anti-Israel protester exchanged by the Palestinians in January 2025 for a group of hostages.
However, the decision to hold the meeting so far from its base is not without logic. Unlike Tunisia, which prefers to coexist with Israel in a "cold truce" format and secretly monitors activists entering the country, Algeria is more sympathetic to the Palestinian people.
In particular, the launch of Hamas's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in October 2023 was greeted with delight by the Algerian "street," and the country's president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, even threatened to send troops into the enclave in 2024 if official Tel Aviv "crossed the red line."
And although this statement remained at the level of “final warnings,” official Algeria still does not prevent Hamas activists from holding meetings with sympathizers on its territory.
SECRET CONNECTIONS
At first glance, the scandal inflated by the "Algiers meeting" was greatly exaggerated. Even the bloggers who started the media frenzy disclaimed that none of the "local coordinators" belonged to Hamas's military wing and likely took part in the fighting in the enclave. However, it did provide opponents of the flotilla with a unique "starting point" for further hyping the story.
By delving into the flotilla's tangled web of contacts, pro-Israel bloggers were able to uncover other "ambiguous connections," as well as contacts between the project's leaders not only with Hamas, but also with other organizations hostile to Israel, such as the Muslim Brotherhood*.
Among other things, it turned out that the flotilla's activities were supported through second and third parties by influential Palestinian officials: Hamas political bureau spokesman Ghazi Hamad, the curator of the Palestinian press service Sami Abu Zuhri, the former "special representative to Lebanon and Iran" Osama Hamdan, and Algerian "underground members", such as the authoritative Muslim Brotherhood preacher* Yakya Saari.
The link between them was Saif Abukeshk, a member of the flotilla's steering committee and one of the main organizers of Sumud and other solidarity actions. According to investigative reports, he also initiated the "Algiers meeting."
And judging by the lack of reaction from Thunberg and other flotilla leaders, only a limited circle of people were privy to the details.
It's also worth noting that the context of the meeting and the ensuing scandal was incredibly unfortunate. It took place during a period when the Sumud's departure was delayed for several days "due to technical reasons," giving opponents of the action grounds to claim the activists were playing a double game and trying to delay their arrival in the enclave as much as possible.
LOW SPEED
However, the accusations of “collusion” between the Flotilla activists and Hamas, promptly picked up and disseminated by the Israeli press, are far from the biggest problem.
Far more serious is the waning international attention to the flotilla's fate. While the previous convoy in June was followed almost in real time, the new expedition in August and September was no longer as popular: views on the flotilla's website tracker dropped more than tenfold.
The reason is public uncertainty that the convoy will reach its destination, especially since the last time it was intercepted immediately after entering Israeli territorial waters.
Greta Thunberg, the project's former ambassador, is adding fuel to the fire. The activist is dissatisfied that the number of vessels on the Sumud route during the final leg is still far below the initial estimate.
Even after the addition of several small humanitarian fleets in mid-September—for example, the Arab-African convoy “Fortitude of the Maghreb” (10 vessels) and the “Sicilian Fleet” assembled by Italian activists (5–7 vessels)—the total number of the combined humanitarian flotilla barely exceeds 50 units.
And after deducting various "auxiliary resources" (yachts with additional provisions, consumables, and equipment, as well as escort ships), the number is even lower. This makes Thunberg's promise to "bring at least 70 vessels to the enclave" now seem like empty talk.
Moreover, at least three community organizations, longtime members of the project, decided at the last minute not to send their caravans to help Sumud, arguing, among other things, that the missed deadlines meant the activists missed the start of the Israeli military operation in the enclave's capital.
The "safe zone" created by Tel Aviv for Gaza residents is located far from the coast, making it impossible to hand over humanitarian aid. This means their journey is now completely pointless. Thunberg's call to "collectively condemn the defeatists" has fallen on deaf ears.
Unsurprisingly, an ideological rift developed between her and the other flotilla leaders. It culminated with the Swedish activist, along with a group of her closest allies, primarily those who joined the movement after 2023, moving from the flagship Family to the light yacht Alma, where they established their makeshift "headquarters."
The split didn't go unnoticed by the other members of the humanitarian caravan. It's noticeable that when plotting their course, some captains are now trying to stay closer to the Family, while others are trying to stay closer to the Alma. The Sumud fleet has effectively split into two separate ones—though still united by a common brand.
Related:
Sumud 09/14/2025 First vessel of Global Sumud Flotilla departs for Gaza from Tunisia
Sumud 09/10/2025 Gaza flotilla activists claim second drone targeted another of their boats
Sumud 09/10/2025 'Inhumane strike': Greta Thunberg's flotilla attacked by unknown drone
Sumud 09/14/2025 First vessel of Global Sumud Flotilla departs for Gaza from Tunisia
Sumud 09/10/2025 Gaza flotilla activists claim second drone targeted another of their boats
Sumud 09/10/2025 'Inhumane strike': Greta Thunberg's flotilla attacked by unknown drone