Greta Thunberg flotilla hit by Abba music as radios hijacked en route to Gaza

Greta Thunberg’s Global Sumud Flotilla, part of a broader civilian convoy carrying food, water and medicine toward Gaza, faced a disruptive incident when radios were hijacked and Abba songs blasted for hours, according to reports cited by GB News. The flotilla, which gathers dozens of boats from around 44 countries, was approaching Gaza’s blockade zone as it pressed toward a position roughly 200 miles off the coast. The episode underscores the tense environment surrounding humanitarian aid efforts in the region, where activists point to ongoing access restrictions and the broader impact of the Gaza war on civilian relief.

GB News reported that the flotilla’s organizers blamed Israel for the music-signal stunt, saying the tactic appeared to be aimed at hindering the mission. The group described the incident as a deliberate interference with radio communications as multiple vessels moved in concert toward Gaza.

Officials and organizers also cited other contested disruptions. The Global Sumud Flotilla asserted that Israeli military drones targeted several ships in the fleet, damaging communication equipment and some masts. The claim added to a series of contested incidents as the flotilla continued its march toward international waters near Gaza. The Portuguese-flagged boat aboard the convoy was said to have sustained damage on its main deck and in storage areas, though the organizers reported no injuries. Tunisian authorities later said reports of a drone strike at Sidi Bou Said port were not true and that they were investigating a separate deck fire instead. Reuters noted the Tunisian interior ministry’s statement, framing the drone strike claim as unsubstantiated.

The flotilla, which includes ships from multiple countries, was approaching a point well beyond international waters where humanitarian aid is aimed to reach civilians in Gaza. As the journey progressed, organizers emphasized their peaceful intent and resilience in the face of what they described as intimidation aimed at derailing their mission.

Ahead of departure, Thunberg and other activists gathered in Barcelona for a press conference that framed the mission in humanitarian terms. Thunberg, a prominent climate advocate, linked the struggle for life-saving aid to broader concerns about the rights of civilians under siege and the responsibilities of international actors to uphold international law by allowing aid to reach those in need. The event highlighted that Thunberg’s second foray into leading such a flotilla followed her detention in June when Israeli forces halted the ship Madleen and 11 others during a prior attempt.

Israel has maintained a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized control in 2007, a measure cited by supporters as a security necessity and by opponents as a severe constraint on humanitarian relief. The blockade remains in place during the ongoing conflict sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel. The Gaza health ministry, which is run by Hamas, has said more than 63,000 people have died in the war, a figure reiterated by many observers and aid groups amid the broader humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

As the flotilla neared its destination, the Global Sumud Flotilla said acts of aggression aimed at intimidating and derailing their mission would not deter them. The organizers reiterated their commitment to delivering aid and drawing international attention to the plight of Gaza’s civilians, while acknowledging the dangers and political sensitivities surrounding maritime aid operations in the area.