Siracusa: The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is entering a new phase of escalation as vessels from Barcelona and across Italy converge at Marina di Siracusa on Thursday, forming an expanded and unified fleet ahead of its continued journey towards Gaza.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, GSF announced that with 25 additional boats joining in Italy, the flotilla now exceeds the size of last year's entire mission, signaling growing international participation and intensifying civilian pressure to challenge Israel's illegal siege on Gaza.

The statement from GSF highlighted that with two additional ports still ahead, the mission continues to build in scale, coordination, and global visibility. The convergence in Siracusa is described as both a logistical milestone and a political statement, reinforcing that the flotilla is not static but is growing, adapting, and advancing.

GSF emphasized that the addition of new vessels from Italy transforms the mission into a more formidable civilian presence at sea, reflecting mounting international refusal to accept the blockade, starvation, and collective punishment as normal. The group stated that each new port strengthens the flotilla not only numerically but also politically, expanding its reach, deepening alliances, and amplifying the global call for accountability.