Drone Attacks Target Humanitarian Flotilla Heading to Gaza
The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising 50 boats carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, reported being struck by nine drone attacks in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Crete, on September 23, 2025, reports 24brussels.
Spanish journalist Néstor Prieto, aboard one of the vessels, revealed that the flotilla activated a drone protocol as approximately twenty drones circled their boats. Initially, these drones performed surveillance sweeps before launching attacks that resulted in at least nine documented impacts, according to video evidence shared on social media.
Witness accounts indicate that the attacks form part of a psychological warfare strategy, involving the detonation of sound bombs both in the air and in the water, aimed at intimidating the vessels without causing lethal damage. One such attack reportedly damaged the masts of a ship, although communication disruptions have made the details unclear, forcing the flotilla to frequently switch radio channels.
While the exact origin of the drones remains undetermined, the nature of the attacks suggests involvement by Israeli or affiliated entities. Drones were still observed over the flotilla around 2:27 a.m. local Greek time, impacting the Al Awda ship among others.
In response to the aggression, flotilla members expressed their determination on social media, stating, “Our determination is stronger than ever. These tactics will not deter us from our mission to deliver aid to Gaza and break the illegal siege. Any attempt to intimidate us only reinforces our commitment. We will not be silenced. We will continue sailing.”
This flotilla initiative aligns with a broader global movement seeking to challenge the Israeli blockade and highlight the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, demanding an end to what they characterize as genocide.
