Venice, Italy – August 30, 2025 – Amid the glitz of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, hundreds of pro-Palestine activists took to the city’s iconic canals in a symbolic flotilla procession on Friday, August 29, to rally support for the Global Sumud Flotilla’s mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The event, organized by local Italian solidarity groups in coordination with the international Freedom Flotilla Coalition, featured dozens of gondolas and small boats adorned with Palestinian flags and banners bearing the poignant message: “Traveling to Break the Siege.” Participants, including filmmakers, actors, and activists, chanted slogans calling for an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza, drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis amid the festival’s red carpet premieres.
The procession snaked through the Grand Canal, starting from the Rialto Bridge and culminating near the Lido island, where the film festival is held. Organizers described it as a “peaceful act of civil disobedience” to amplify the voices of Palestinians suffering under what they term an “illegal siege.” “We are here in Venice, a city built on water, to symbolize the maritime journeys that brave souls are undertaking to bring aid and hope to Gaza,” said Italian activist Maria Rossi, a coordinator with the Global Movement for Gaza. The event coincided with an open letter signed by prominent Italian artists at the festival, including directors Marco Bellocchio and Alba Rohrwacher, urging global action against the “genocide” in Gaza. The letter, presented during a press conference, echoed the flotilla’s goals, stating, “Each boat represents a community and the refusal to remain silent in the face of genocide.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla, a historic coalition involving vessels from 44 countries, is set to depart from ports in Spain on August 31 and Tunisia on September 4, aiming to challenge Israel’s naval blockade and deliver essential supplies to Gaza’s beleaguered population. “Sumud,” meaning “resilience” in Arabic, encapsulates the mission’s spirit of nonviolent resistance against the siege, which has restricted access to food, medicine, and rebuilding materials for over 18 years. Activists like Yasemin Acar, a participant in the broader flotilla, emphasized determination: “We are determined to break the siege on Gaza.” American activist Hannah Smith, joining from the U.S., highlighted the urgency: “This is my third attempt to try to sail with humanitarian aid to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and open up a humanitarian corridor.”
In Venice, the procession drew a diverse crowd, including festival attendees and tourists, some of whom joined impromptu chants of “Free Palestine” from the bridges. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, in town for the festival, was spotted among the supporters, lending her voice to the cause. International celebrities like Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon have publicly backed the flotilla, with Ruffalo posting on social media: “From every river to every sea! The Global Sumud Flotilla is a historic, nonviolent, humanitarian mission.” The event also featured cultural elements, with musicians performing Palestinian folk songs from the boats, blending Venice’s artistic heritage with global solidarity.
Italian authorities monitored the procession closely, with police boats escorting the flotilla to ensure safety amid the city’s busy waterways. No incidents were reported, though organizers noted minor disruptions from counter-protesters waving Israeli flags. The demonstration comes as the Venice Film Festival faces calls to address geopolitical issues, with several screenings featuring documentaries on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Festival director Alberto Barbera acknowledged the protests in a statement, saying, “Cinema has always been a platform for dialogue and reflection on global injustices.”
For many participants, the Venice event serves as a prelude to the larger flotilla’s sail. “We’ll try again and again,” said one activist in a video from the procession, echoing the resolve of past missions that have faced Israeli interceptions. Thiago Avila, another supporter, declared, “We are going to open the way” for aid to reach Gaza’s civilians. As the boats dispersed at sunset, the message “Traveling to Break the Siege” lingered on banners, a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle amid the serenity of Venice’s lagoons.
The Global Sumud Flotilla’s organizers invite global participation, even remotely, through their website, emphasizing that this mission builds on 37 previous maritime efforts to challenge the blockade. With Gaza’s humanitarian situation described as “on the verge of collapse,” the Venice procession underscores a growing international chorus demanding action. As one U.S. attendee put it, “From Venice to Gaza, solidarity knows no borders.”