Abu Taher
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), is the largest citizen-led humanitarian flotilla mission to Gaza ever, combining previous humanitarian missions to Gaza over land, sea and air. It builds on decades of Palestinian resistance and international solidarity. Initiated in mid-2025, It includes activists, humanitarians, doctors, artists, clergy and lawyers – all of whom have come together to take direct action to break the siege. It brings together professionals and ordinary people from over 44 countries, with more than 50 boats aiming to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
Together with many in the world, GSF marched, spoken up, boycotted – reflecting the sentiments of the global majority. But this has not been enough to pressure world government to stop Israel’s siege on Gaza and ensure that a genocide, occurring in real time, is put to an end.
Although many nations have the capacity to sanction Israel and even authorise military intervention to end the ongoing genocide, they have done almost nothing beyond rhetorical statements.
Meanwhile, US is pushing for a new ceasefire in Gaza after giving the Palestinian independence movement Hamas a ‘final warning’, but did not give any details on the matter, however it indicated that the already terrible war in Gaza could become even more terrible if Hamas does not accept the new proposal. Since 7 October Israel has killed more than 64,500 Palestinians in the valley so far and a famine has been declared there. United Nations repeatedly warned that Israel has been committing war crimes and genocide in Gaza defying international war time rules and regulations.
Negotiations for a ceasefire have been going on for months, mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt. But Israeli officials have repeatedly rejected it or have not responded. Hamas had accepted an earlier proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The proposal was supposed to release some Israeli hostages held in Gaza. But Israel and the US later backed down. Netanyahu then set the condition that all hostages must be released, and Hamas must surrender completely. Now, in recent bids, US is claiming that new proposal could yield different and positive results.
With regard to ceasefire America’s warnings have been directed solely at Hamas, never at Israel revealing once again Washington’s one-sided role in the conflict. This has left Palestinians and their supporters worldwide questioning whether justice can ever emerge from US-led negotiations.
Under the new ceasefire bid, Trump’s current proposal calls for the release of all Israeli hostages from the start. In exchange, Israel will release an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. Then, only negotiations will continue. It is all about to release all hostages from the captive of Hamas, but the war will not stop. We observe that US-Israel vow to destroy the rights of Palestinians to live in their statehood and the Hamas, take over control of Gaza, West Bank and Jerusalem.
By incessant bombing, firing shells, gun-shoots and blockades, Israel has completely destroyed all the physical structures of Gaza, West Bank and Jerusalem, but unable to destroy the strength and belief of Palestine people. Part of such strength is that the movement for justice and human rights that is also growing as more and more people recognised that this is not a war but a genocide. This time around, there is not one flotilla but over 50 from more than 40 countries. The GSF not only to keep up the pressure but also to sustain the hope. To lose hope is to give up on the people of Gaza and surrender them to a Zionist regime. Having a conscience demands around the world, we do not lose hope for Independent Palestine.
The writer is a journalist and communications professional
