On August 31, the first wave of boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla departed from Barcelona harbour in what is the largest attempt to break Israel's 18-year illegal blockade of Gaza. Dozens of other vessels from Tunisia and other Mediterranean ports followed a few days later.
The Global Sumud Flotilla represents the fourth major effort this year to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian territory, following the bombing of the Conscience and the interception of previous missions, including the Handala and the Madleen, both of which were illegally stopped by Israeli forces in international waters.
During their final preparations, two participants — one coordinating from the ground and one aboard the vessels — spoke to The New Arab about the aims of this historic mission and their motivations for joining it.
Their accounts reveal how personal history, family connections, and a shared sense of urgency have driven ordinary people from across the globe to risk their safety in challenging one of the world's most heavily enforced blockades.
'We see you, we hear you, and we are coming'
James Hickey, a 52-year-old removal logistics worker from Glasgow, never imagined he would find himself sailing toward Gaza on a humanitarian mission. Yet as he prepared to depart, the father of three spoke with quiet determination about why he felt compelled to join this historic mission.
Under no illusions about the dangers ahead, James acknowledged the violent reality facing those who challenge Israel's blockade.
"We know how Israel has acted towards humanitarian activists in the past, how they have acted towards doctors, journalists, innocent men, women and children. So we completely understand the risks involved," he said, his voice steady.
"However, the risks we take are nothing, absolutely nothing in comparison to the risks faced by the people of Palestine."
For James, the flotilla mission transcends the present — it's about the world his children and future grandchildren will inherit.
"What future do my children and grandchildren have if we do not act on this?" he asked.
"Because of the level of complicity and silence, allowing this to carry on with impunity, I see no future for anyone in the West. This will visit all our doorsteps."
This sense of intergenerational responsibility runs through James' family history. His great-grandparents fled Ireland during the potato famine, escaping British occupation and oppression, only to face continued discrimination in Glasgow. Growing up as part of the Scots-Irish Catholic community, he witnessed how trauma and persecution are reproduced from generation to generation.
For James, Gaza has become a microcosm for the need for collective liberation.
"I feel like Gaza is a microcosm for many. The nobility of the people of Gaza and the West Bank and the Palestinians in the face of this horror just exposes the lies at the heart of our governments and the sham that our democracy pretends to be," he said, pointing to how the crisis has revealed the emptiness of Western claims about human rights.
The mission is fundamentally about modelling courage and humanity for future generations.
"I need to show my children and my grandchildren, hopefully, if I'm lucky enough one day to have grandchildren, how to behave as a human being, what's important in life," he explained.
"What are the most important things in life? They are family, community, decency, humanity and helping others when they are being oppressed."
The decision to multiply the number of boats from previous single-vessel attempts reflects hard lessons learned from earlier interceptions.
The movement has evolved in response to Israeli tactics, with organisers realising that deploying dozens of vessels simultaneously increases the chances that at least some will break through to deliver their cargo of aid and, crucially, their message of solidarity to Gaza's population.
While the team has prepared extensively for a successful landing in Gaza, James acknowledged the mission's uncertain outcome.
The flotilla organisers understand the significant risks involved and have adopted a realistic approach — preparing for the worst-case scenario while maintaining hope for the best possible result.
Even if the boats don't reach their destination, the symbolic impact of the largest coordinated challenge to the blockade sends a powerful message about growing international determination to end Israel's genocide and forced starvation of Palestinians in Gaza.
James believes deeply in the power of symbolic action to catalyse broader change. He cited the example of hometown Glasgow City Council awarding Nelson Mandela the freedom of the city in 1981, which sparked a global movement following suit, ultimately contributing to the international pressure and sanctions that helped end South African apartheid.
For James, even if the flotilla faces interception, it represents a similar moment of moral clarity that could inspire escalating international resistance to Gaza's blockade.
"Despite living in one of Glasgow's roughest neighbourhoods, James acknowledged the risks but remained undaunted. Having witnessed the devastating effects of gang violence in his community, he views Israeli military tactics through a familiar lens: "This is basically what our leaders and the IOF are involved in, gangsterism, and I've experienced that."
His message to Palestinians in Gaza was simple but powerful: "We see you, we hear you, and we are coming."
'We will never stop until the aid goes in'
For Sami Al Soos, the UK coordinator and spokesperson assisting from land, this historic mission carries particular weight given his Palestinian heritage.
Speaking from Barcelona as he coordinated the flotilla's final preparations, Sami described witnessing an extraordinary mobilisation unfold before his eyes.
"It is an unbelievable atmosphere, unbelievable for this initiative to be created in this very short period of time and how these people are coming up from 44 countries around the world from the six continents," he said, marvelling at the convergence of volunteers with a singular purpose.
"It's all coming here with one aim, with one strength, with one word, with one mission in their head to go to the shore of Gaza and deliver the humanitarian aid and break the siege."
The failure of the Global March to Gaza, where both Sami and James were turned back before reaching the Rafah border, combined with the interceptions of previous flotilla attempts, had convinced organisers that a coordinated maritime approach offered the best hope of breaking through.
For Sami, whose family lives just kilometres from the frequently raided West Bank village of Masafer Yatta, the mission represents both personal urgency and profound humility.
He has witnessed how "the number of shootings, killings, and imprisonments every day has increased massively since October 7," with daily violence carried out by settlers protected by Israeli forces.
Yet despite this direct connection to Palestinian suffering, Sami consistently positioned himself and fellow activists as the ones receiving inspiration rather than providing it.
"You are the heroes of this world. You are the ones who are trying to shame all of this complicit world," he said, addressing the people of Gaza directly.
"We are trying to be just small humans in front of you and to say sorry to you about the complicity of our leaders."
Most significantly, Sami delivered an uncompromising message of persistence that extends beyond this single mission.
"So we promise them, we promise them this will not even be the last mission," he declared.
"We will carry on and on and on, and we will never stop until the aid goes in Gaza unconditionally, until the humanitarian corridor is open, until the siege is broken, we will carry on even if they stop us at this time and another time, and we will never stop until this is achieved."
The hope, he emphasised, flows from Gaza outward, not the other way around.
"You give us hope and keep giving us the hope because you are giving the whole world hope," he said, acknowledging how Palestinian resilience continues to inspire international solidarity movements and challenge activists worldwide to match their courage with meaningful action.
Liam Syed is a freelance journalist currently based in Amman, Jordan
Follow him on Instagram: @liamlaiii