Dispute roils Greta Thunberg’s Gaza flotilla as LGBTQ activists join convoy

The Global Sumud Flotilla, a maritime envoy aiming to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, is facing internal upheaval as activists debated who should sail aboard and what leadership roles should be exercised. Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist who had been a visible figure in the flotilla’s leadership, has stepped down from the steering committee amid a dispute over governance and communications. She will remain onboard the mission as an organizer and participant, according to remarks reported by the flotilla’s allies.

The flotilla's voyage began on September 1, when roughly 20 vessels displaying Palestinian flags and carrying about 350 pro-Palestinian activists departed from Barcelona. The organizers say the aim is to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and to press for an end to the blockade. After an initial leg that included a stop in Tunisia to gather additional volunteers and supplies, the flotilla resumed its march toward Gaza. The mission has faced a string of challenges, including concerns among some supporters about the involvement of LGBTQ+ campaigners on board.

Two video streams circulated on social media showing Khaled Boujemaa, the Tunisian coordinator of the flotilla, expressing frustration over the presence of queer activists on the convoy. Boujemaa, according to translations, said organizers had hidden this reality and complained that it violated the movement’s unity. A prominent Tunisian LGBTQ+ activist, Saif Ayadi, was cited as a participant who helped bolster the Tunisian contingent when the convoy stopped in Bizerte.

Supporters of the broader movement clashed with Boujemaa’s claims, arguing that the mission has always been a coalition of groups with diverse perspectives united by the goal of aiding Palestinians in Gaza. Nevertheless, the dispute intensified as other participants spoke out on social media. Mariem Meftah, a flotilla member, publicly criticized LGBTQ+ activists, saying that sexuality is a private matter but that promoting queer rights could complicate the mission’s reception among Muslim communities that regard the cause as sacred. Meftah urged the group to consider the implications for participants’ families and communities, and she called for a reform of the leadership approach to address what she described as a “mistake” that could jeopardize the flotilla’s goals.

Samir Elwafi, a presenter linked to some flotilla events, echoed a sentiment prioritizing the Palestinian cause’s spiritual dimensions and expressing concern about “dubious activists” who, in his view, might divert attention from Gaza. He argued that the movement should remain faithful to its core mission rather than broaden its agenda to encompass wider social campaigns.

The leadership shake-up occurred as Thunberg told Il Manifesto that the committee’s frequent public airing of internal disagreements undermined the mission’s focus on the “genocide in Palestine.” Her departure from the steering committee was confirmed by the group’s announcements, and she was later seen moving between vessels on the dock in Tunis as the flotilla reorganized. Thunberg, who remains on the flotilla as an organizer and participant, framed her decision as a matter of organizational efficiency and clarity, saying that decentralization and a focused commitment to Gaza were essential to the effort’s legitimacy and efficacy.

The flotilla’s organizers had previously claimed that two of their ships were struck by drones near the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said, prompting the flotilla’s temporary halt. Tunisian authorities denied any drone strike occurred, saying no such attack took place and noting that a fire on a vessel may have been caused by a cigarette. The official statement from the Tunisian National Guard described the drone claims as unfounded and underscored that the fire was not an act of aggression tied to a drone event.

As of mid-September, the flotilla reported that its ships were roughly 715 nautical miles from Gaza and that a Greek fleet was expected to join in the coming days. The organizers say the flotilla remains the largest effort to date to break the blockade by sea, an objective that has echoed across international discussions about humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains dire under the status quo, with the International Food Security classification noting that hundreds of thousands face food insecurity, while Israel has rejected claims that Gaza is nearing famine and has argued that the flotilla is a political maneuver that supports Hamas.

The episode has underscored how a wide array of participants, ranging from climate activists to pro-Palestinian advocates, can form a broad coalition with divergent views on social issues and political strategy. While Thunberg’s role is shifting, she emphasised that the mission’s purpose remains Gaza and Palestine and that decentralized organizing can still mobilize a large, global audience in support of humanitarian relief. The flotilla’s fate in the days ahead will hinge on its ability to reconcile internal disagreements with a coherent plan to deliver aid and to sustain international attention on Gaza amid ongoing regional tensions.

The Daily Mail reached the Global Sumud Flotilla and Greta Thunberg for comment, but no immediate statements were available from the organizations involved at press time. As the convoy navigates logistical hurdles, security concerns, and ideological debates, observers are watching to see whether the flotilla can maintain unity long enough to reach Gaza and deliver aid in a manner that resonates with a broad international audience.