The Global Sumud Flotilla and the South Africans who sailed with it

It seems almost tragically farcical. Fifty small boats plagued with constant mechanical issues and crewed by mostly first-time sailors? Trying to take on Israel, the military powerhouse of the region? It was ridiculous. Ridiculous and gloriously brave ... It was the sort of selfless bravery that many people are incapable of understanding. The bravery of people who are fighting for a cause that they know is just. Some people find it easy to laugh at the flotilla, I do not. It was a serious initiative, and it sent a serious message.

- YESH GOVENDER

It sent a message to the Palestinian people that they were not forgotten and that there were people in the world who were prepared to sacrifice everything in service to a humanitarian cause. Israel attacked the flotilla, of course. Israeli drones dropped incendiary bombs on flotilla boats. They were targeted by electronic warfare attacks. Communications equipment was jammed and the Israelis played loud songs over the flotilla’s hacked communications systems to disrupt the sleep patterns of the flotilla members.

The Israel military launched a full attack on the Sumud Flotilla on October 1 this year, while the boats were still in international waters. They intercepted all the boats and took the crews captive. The last boat to be intercepted was the “Marinette”, which made a heroic run for the beach of Gaza despite knowing that all other flotilla boats had been intercepted. The “Marinette” got so close that people in Gaza could see it.