A flotilla of more than 100 boats will depart from Spain for Gaza on April 12, with some boats joining from other Mediterranean port cities, pro-Palestinian activists said on Wednesday (February 25) at a press conference in Istanbul.

The boats will carry medical professionals, educators and other experts to Gaza, aiming to break Israel's blockade on the strip.

Nadir al-Nuri, a pro-Palestinian activist from Malaysia, said two convoys will head to Gaza on land in addition to the flotilla.

The activists attempt to bring aid supplies and draw attention to the plight of Gaza, where most of its 2.3 million residents have been displaced and their homes left in ruins. Israel has faced global condemnation over the war in Gaza, and for the widespread hunger its blockade caused.

The Israeli military last October intercepted a flotilla of roughly 40 boats as they attempted to reach blockaded Gaza, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thurnberg and more than 450 other participants.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Activists say flotilla of more than 100 ships set to sail to Gaza from Spain on April 12

VIDEO SHOWS: PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS HOLDING PRESS CONFERENCE REGARDING NEW FLOTILLA THAT WILL AIM TO BREAK ISRAELI BLOCKADE ON GAZA TO BRING AID TO STRIP

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (FEBRUARY 25, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS SPEAKING DURING PRESS CONFERENCE HELD IN ISTANBUL TO ANNOUNCE DEPARTURE OF NEW FLOTILLA AIMING TO BRING AID TO GAZA BY BREAKING ISRAELI BLOCKADE

2. AUDIENCE WATCHING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) FREEDOM AND SUMUD FLOTILLA TURKEY MEMBER, DILEK TEKOCAK, SAYING:

"We hereby announce our participation in the Global Sumud Flotilla as Turkey, and that we are here. We are announcing our renewed departure to break the unlawful blockade against Gaza and taking action to defend the Palestinian people's right to life, human dignity, and self-determination. The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising over one hundred ships and boats and involving thousands of participants from more than one hundred countries, will set sail from Spain into the Mediterranean on April 12th."

4. VARIOUS OF NGO MEMBERS WATCHING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) FREEDOM AND SUMUD FLOTILLA TURKEY MEMBER, DILEK TEKOCAK, SAYING:

"Delegations from over fifty countries, thousands of participants from more than 150 countries, and over a hundred ships will depart from Barcelona, Italy, Tunisia, and other Mediterranean ports. The flotilla will not only carry aid but will also transport healthcare workers, educators, infrastructure and eco-construction teams, lawyers, and war crimes investigators to Gaza. It is planned that over a thousand doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will also be among the participants."

6. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST FROM MALAYSIA, NADIR AL-NURI, SAYING:

"With the Global Sumud flotilla that will be departing, God willing, in April, we are also announcing two land convoys that will move towards the Gaza Strip, and that will open not only a sea corridor but also a land humanitarian corridor that will start, God willing, from the Maghreb region and also from the South Asian country."

8. PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS