ALBAWABA - On Saturday, a collective of 140 artists and other personalities urged the Belgian and French governments to protect pro-Palestine activists on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, heading to Gaza.
Artists, internet personalities, including DJ Snake, Zaho de Sagazan, Angèle, and Lena Situations, called for the Belgian and French governments to provide "diplomatic protection" due to the international flotilla being allegedly targeted by numerous drone attacks.
According to Le Parisien, the 140 personalities, which consist of artists, content creators, writers, and journalists, wrote, "We call for immediate action by the French and Belgian states to guarantee humanitarian access to Gaza and put an end to the genocide of the Palestinian people."
140 public figures urge protection for Gaza's Global Sumud Flotilla
Despite being targeted during its journey and suffering from severe weather conditions, the Global Sumud Flotilla is still sailing towards Gaza in hopes of breaking the Israeli blockade and letting in humanitarian aid into the Strip due to the rising cases of famine.
Formerly known as Sumud Convoy, the international flotilla consists of more than 50 boats and carries human rights activists, celebrities, and politicians from 44 countries, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, former Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, Irish politician Paul Murphy, Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila
and many more, such as figures from the European Parliament.
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail to Gaza from the Port of Barcelona in August 2025 and met with dozens of other boats that departed from ports in Tunisia.
The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza
Palestinians who fled Gaza City gather under shades in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on September 28, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip has resulted in the killing of more than 65,000 Palestinians, and has left at least 167,000 others injured since Oct. 7, 2023.
Recently, hospitals in Gaza recorded three new deaths due to famine, raising the total number of deaths from starvation to 425, including 145 children.
