Palestine and Beyond: Global Civil Society Challenges Gaza's Blockade

While in Israel authorities are pressing ahead with plans to annex parts of the West Bank, large crowds – from Australia to Kenya – continue to mobilise in order to demand an end to the war in Gaza and to urge governments to act on the worsening humanitarian catastrophe, especially now that the Israeli army is on the outskirts of Gaza City and preparing to enter the city centre. The momentum has not been confined to the global stage: protests have also erupted across the region – from Yemen, Iran, Turkey and Morocco – amplifying calls for urgent action, even though regional governments often fail to support these mobilisations. Western governments, too, remain divided in their response to the war in Gaza and, more broadly, to the Palestinian question. This moment is significant, as many countries have signalled that they may recognise Palestine during the upcoming 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, even as others remain hesitant. Nonetheless, the United States not only criticised these moves, but also continues to offer unwavering support to Israel, denying visas to Palestinian officials seeking to attend the Assembly, and advancing its controversial “Gaza Riviera Plan” (called now GREAT – Gaza reconstitution, economic acceleration and transformation – Trust) which envisions Washington administering the Strip for the next decade. This combination of international symbolic gestures and Western political hesitation against the Gaza war has further fuelled civil society mobilisation. Demonstrations are taking increasingly diverse forms – from the pro-Palestinian march at the Venice Film Festival to the mass mobilisation around the launch of the Global Sumud Flotilla. This unprecedented maritime mission, bringing together more than 50 ships and delegations from at least 44 countries, set sail from Spain on 31 August, bound for Tunisia, aiming to challenge Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The initiative reflects the scale of global transnational civil society’s determination, echoing earlier Freedom Flotilla attempts to break the siege.