The ships, mainly sailboats, left Barcelona shortly after 11:30 a.m. local time. They are expected to be joined by more ships from Marseille, France, and Sicily, Italy, during the journey.
The aim, according to the organizers, is to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver emergency aid to its residents.
The Global Sumud Flotilla convoy was supposed to start on Sunday, but was delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
This is not the first time a convoy of ships carrying activists has set sail for the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. In 2025, a convoy of around 50 ships was boarded. The crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and later deported by Israel.
