Calls for ‘Free Palestine’ Echo Across the Waves of Marmaris, Ready to Break the Gaza Blockade

13 May 2026, 18:20

Two people on a sailboat beside a tall mast with multicolored signal flags and rigging against a clear blue sky.

MARMARIS, TURKEY —-— On the shores of Marmaris, Turkey, the sound of the waves mingles with the footsteps of the humanitarian delegates from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0, who are moving ceaselessly. From that small port, the delegates are preparing for a voyage to break through Israel’s blockade of Gaza on Thursday (May 7, 2026).

Preparations included the entire delegation—including the humanitarian delegation representing Indonesia—busily finalizing the legal aspects of the voyage and attending a general assembly or general meeting prior to their departure for Gaza.

These delegates represent a number of Indonesian philanthropic organizations that are members of the Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI), one of which is Dompet Dhuafa.

Two people on a boat raise a large red-and-white flag against a blue sky and distant hills.

Sailboats docked at a marina with colorful pennant flags fluttering in a clear blue sky.

The Red and White Flag fluttered among the flotilla’s vessels—the Amanda Boat and Family Boat—signifying the presence of the Indonesian delegation, while also conveying a message of support, spirit, and resolve not to give up in the humanitarian struggle

Chiki Fawzi, the Indonesian representative of the Global Sumud Flotilla delegation, stood on the side of the ship holding a brush and paint. He painted the words “Free Palestine” on one of the ship’s hulls.

Person in a red life jacket and hijab spray-paints colorful graffiti on a large boat while seated in an inflatable dinghy beside it.

Small dinghy with an orange life jacket beside a graffiti-painted sailboat reading 'Palestina' and 'Gaza' in a harbor, with Palestinian flag bunting in the foreground.

The graffiti scrawled on the ship carries a message that the Indonesian people will not stand idly by in the face of Palestinian suffering; it also serves as a form of resistance against the blockade that has long silenced Gaza.

Meanwhile, the participants are also awaiting the arrival of 34 other ships sailing from Greece. Some of the ships were reportedly intercepted by the Israeli military in Greek waters. One of the ships that was intercepted was the Saf Saf, a vessel that previously served as the mother ship for humanitarian activist Thiago Ávila.

Small dinghy with an outboard motor tied to a sailboat; graffiti reads 'MUNKY' and other red letters on the hull; a person wearing an orange life jacket sits in the dinghy surrounded by gear over green water.

Man at a marina holding a white T‑shirt with bold red and green letters reading 'FREE GAZA' in front of boats and sailing equipment

“We are so happy that we were finally able to pick up our friends who were detained in Greek waters yesterday. After this, we will prepare together to set sail and break through the blockade of Gaza that was illegally imposed by Israel,” said one of the delegates.

The active involvement of Indonesian humanitarian organizations such as Dompet Dhuafa in the Global Sumud Flotilla mission is seen as a representation of the Indonesian people’s solidarity with the Palestinian people. (Dompet Dhuafa)

Text: Anndini Dwi Putri

Photo: Ronggo Wirasanu

Editor: Dhika