Organizers of Gaza Flotilla, Including Greta Thunberg, Target West Bank

Three years after the October 7th attacks, organizers of a past flotilla to Gaza, which included Greta Thunberg, are now targeting the West Bank for their next initiative. The "Global Sumud Flotilla" organization is recruiting foreign activists to come to the region for the upcoming olive harvest, with an application deadline of October 7th. According to information gathered by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism's National Situation Room, the program involves a minimum two-week stay, training in "direct action," and political and media preparation.

Participants are required to commit to continued political activity after returning to their home countries. The organization's program states its goal is to turn participants into "catalysts" for further organization in their home countries, as part of what it terms a "broader confrontation with Zionism as a political project." The Ministry estimates this program could help develop a long-term international network of activists, though the organization does not explicitly state this. This effort is part of the Ministry's broader initiative to identify and map foreign activists planning to arrive in Israel and the West Bank as part of organized international campaigns.

The Ministry noted that this initiative joins other campaigns to recruit international activists for the 2026 olive harvest season, including those by Go Palestine, Protect the Harvest, Faz3a, and the International Solidarity Movement. These groups present their activities as a "protective presence" alongside Palestinian communities. The application page indicates that candidates facing financial difficulties for travel can note this, and that many participants fundraise for their stays. The organization also addresses the possibility of activists being denied entry to Israel, suggesting factors like passport, name, travel history, and public political activity could influence this.

Director General of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism, Avi Cohen-Scali, stated, "The State of Israel will not serve as a playground for foreign anarchists. Anyone who seeks to come here as part of an organized system aimed at provoking, disrupting order, and acting against the State of Israel should know that the State of Israel identifies them, locates them, and will act against them with all legal tools at its disposal."