The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international civil society initiative challenging Israel’s blockade of Gaza, expects its ships to reach Gaza’s territorial waters in three or four days, its Turkey representative said Friday.
Beheşti İsmail Songür told the state-run Anadolu news agency that the flotilla has about 430 miles left to travel.
“Hopefully, within the next three or four days, we will reach the borders of Gaza to enter Gaza’s territorial waters, break this blockade and show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the [Global] Sumud Flotilla,” Songür was quoted by Anadolu as saying.
Today the #FreedomFlotilla Coalition set sail with almost 100 people aboard the 'Conscience' – many of them being healthcare workers or journalists. Our goal is to break Israel’s illegal siege & to provide international correspondents the chance to attempt direct reporting from… pic.twitter.com/ER6ALxXZD7
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) October 1, 2025
The flotilla is led by the Vicdan (Conscience) and includes 10 other ships carrying health care workers, journalists and three members of the Turkish parliament, Anadolu cited Songür as saying. The organizers say the mission aims to deliver medical supplies to Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.
Songür described the mission as a continuation of efforts launched after October 7, 2023, saying the coalition had sent the Vicdan, Madleen and Hanzala. He added that participants view the blockade as illegitimate and intend to challenge it by sea.
Songür said dozens of people who set out with the Sumud Flotilla are being held in Israeli prisons and added, “There is a truth that Israel must understand. No matter how hard it tries to hinder these flotillas, they will grow, and this civilian anger, this justified anger, will reach the borders of Palestine and break this blockade.”
The coalition had previously organized the 2010 flotilla that included the Mavi Marmara, which Israeli forces raided in international waters, killing 10 activists.