Malaysian civil society groups on Saturday unveiled plans for a massive global flotilla aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade on Gaza, calling it the largest maritime solidarity effort ever attempted.
Dubbed the “Thousand Ship Flotilla,” the initiative seeks to launch vessels from across Asia, Europe, and Latin America in a coordinated push to deliver humanitarian aid and pressure Israel to end what organizers described as a “brutal and genocidal siege” on the Palestinian enclave.
The campaign was announced in Kuala Lumpur by Azmi Abdul Hamid, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (MAPIM), who said preparations are already underway with international partners and that support for the effort has been “unprecedented.”
The announcement follows Israel’s seizure of the Madleen, a humanitarian vessel attempting to reach Gaza, which organizers say has renewed international attention on the blockade. Unlike previous missions, including the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla that ended in the deaths of 10 activists at the hands of Israeli forces, Abdul Hamid said this effort would be “larger, more coordinated, and more difficult to ignore.”
A joint statement signed by dozens of Malaysian groups outlined the flotilla’s goals: to deliver aid, push for the lifting of the siege, demand international protection for Palestinians, and hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes.
Organizers also urged governments to safeguard the rights of their nationals joining the flotilla, hoping diplomatic protections would dissuade Israel from intercepting the mission.
In a related protest Saturday, Malaysian activists gathered outside the Malaysian Investment Development Authority to call for divestment from companies tied to the occupation, including U.S.-based Caterpillar Inc., which supplies bulldozers used in demolitions of Palestinian homes.
MAPIM also announced plans for an international secretariat and fundraising campaign to coordinate ship procurement and logistics, and encouraged individuals, humanitarian organizations, and companies worldwide to join the effort.
With frustration mounting over the international community’s failure to halt the war on Gaza, organizers said they aim to build global political momentum through public pressure and direct action at sea. Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks.