Global outcry as 'Israel' attacks Sumud Flotilla to Gaza
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Arab and international leaders condemned "Israel’s" attack on the Sumud Flotilla, calling it a violation of international law and a new crime.
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Pro-Palestine activists march in downtown Rome late on October 1, 2025 after news that the Sumud Flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces. (AP)
Arab and international leaders have strongly condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ assault on the Sumud Flotilla, which set sail to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. Officials and organizations across Latin America, Europe, and the Arab world denounced the attack as a violation of international law and a new crime against the Palestinian people.
BREAKING:
— sarah (@sahouraxo) October 1, 2025
From Naples to Milan, Rome to Florence, Livorno, Genoa, Perugia — Italy rises in protest tonight against Israel’s attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla!
🇮🇹 🔥 pic.twitter.com/icjgsdxkTQ
Bolivian and Colombian presidents denounce Israeli crimes
Bolivian President Luis Arce called the attack a “violent act” and a “flagrant violation of international law and an affront to human dignity.” He urged the global community, multilateral organizations, and “free peoples of the world” to mobilize against what he described as “new brutality” carried out by the Netanyahu government.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also accused "Israel" of committing a “new international crime,” stressing that activists, including Greta Thunberg and her companions, were detained unlawfully in international waters. Petro criticized US President Donald Trump’s so-called “peace plan,” describing it as a cover for policies that perpetuate Gaza’s starvation.
Massive crowds gathered in front of Berlin's Central Station in solidarity with Gaza and the Sumud Flotilla, following the Israeli interceptions in international waters. pic.twitter.com/ECZzNho6vN
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) October 1, 2025
France and Chile call for protection of citizens and law
The French Foreign Ministry announced it was closely monitoring the flotilla’s trajectory, emphasizing that the safety of French citizens on board remained a top priority. Paris confirmed ongoing coordination with European partners.
Chile expressed “grave concern” over the attack, warning that it violated the freedom of navigation guaranteed under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Santiago called for strict adherence to international humanitarian law and demanded guarantees for the safety of volunteers and crew members.
#BREAKING 🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- Protests have broken out in Rome, Brussels, Berlin, Barcelona, Istanbul and Kayseri against the Israeli interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
— Monitor𝕏 (@MonitorX99800) October 1, 2025
Videos from Rome, Kayseri and Istanbul. pic.twitter.com/NtiLXfvc0F
Venezuela labels attack as piracy and extermination
Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong condemnation, labeling the assault a “cowardly act of piracy” and part of a deliberate policy of extermination through starvation. Caracas reiterated that Zionism represents a “colonial ideology and apartheid” that continues to violate human rights and international norms, affirming its unwavering solidarity with Palestine and those risking their safety to support humanitarian aid.
Tunisia, Algeria, and Yemen demand stronger action
In Tunisia, Workers’ Party Secretary-General Hamma Hammami described the flotilla assault as “a crime that started in Tunisia,” calling for heightened public pressure against the occupation and stronger union actions to criminalize normalization.
From Tunisia 🇹🇳 pic.twitter.com/8NsGRnFbjQ
— Neila Essid (@Neila1882) October 1, 2025
The Algerian Coordination for the Support of the Palestinian People urged the government to take urgent measures in response to the attack, while Ansar Allah in Yemen condemned the raid and warned that the silence of the international community only encourages further crimes.
Mohammed al-Farah of Ansar Allah stressed the need for urgent global action to lift the blockade on Gaza and to hold the occupation accountable for its aggression.
