Zack Polanski urges UK government to protect Gaza flotilla

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has written an urgent letter to Keir Starmer’s government asking for immediate action to ensure Israel doesn’t injure British nationals and others in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF). This comes after yet another Israeli attack on the humanitarian volunteers in Greek waters.

Zack Polanski: on the right side of history again

Zack Polanski has previously stressed that he’s “a Jewish person who criticises the Israeli government’s actions *because* of my Judaism not in spite of it”. And on 24 September, he reminded the UK prime minister and foreign secretary that the aid mission to Gaza:

is made up of 52 boats, carrying humanitarian supplies and peace activists determined to support civilians facing unimaginable suffering.

Israel’s genocidal government has predictably tried to smear the peaceful flotilla members as ‘Hamas’. And as Polanski noted:

We know from past experience that when Israel smears peace activists with unfounded claims of links to Hamas, it is often a precursor to violent attacks.

Considering Israel’s previous attacks on humanitarian flotillas this year, he called for Britain to ensure Israel treats GSF participants “safely and in line with international law”. He added:

The Israeli Government’s ongoing assault on Gaza is a genocide, and those who try to break the siege to deliver aid must not be targeted… I urge you to act immediately to secure cast-iron assurances from Israel that no harm will come to those on board, 13 of whom are British nationals.

I’ve written to Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper demanding urgent action to ensure the safety of the Global Sumud Flotilla. 52 boats carrying aid and peace activists to Gaza.

The UK must act to assure their safety.

Israel is committing a genocide. All eyes are on this flotilla. pic.twitter.com/eN2eKUkQIo

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) September 24, 2025

Israel’s impunity must not continue

International courts recognise that Israel’s occupation of Palestine is illegal. Human rights organisations have long called the apartheid state’s brutal blockade of Gaza illegal. The UN has just concluded that Israel clearly wants permanent control of Gaza. And there is overwhelming consensus in the world that the war-criminal government has been committing genocide in Gaza.

The illegality of Israel’s attacks on flotilla humanitarians, meanwhile, is also clear. As Irish comedian and GSF participant Tadhg Hickey made clear:

we’re off the coast of fucking Greece. Israel doesn’t own the oceans.

To the utter cheese-for-brains who keep saying that "the Flotilla participants are in a war zone, what do they expect": we're off the coast of fucking Greece. Israel doesn't own the oceans. Or did God promise them that as well?

— Tehran Tadhg (@TadhgHickey) September 24, 2025

With escalating Israeli threats as the flotilla continues to advance towards Gaza, NATO members Spain and Italy have both now sent navy vessels to accompany the humanitarian ships. This followed a massive general strike in Italy in solidarity with Gaza, which put significant pressure on the Italian government:

Italy's PM is a right-winger,
but this is still happening because Italy had a general strike that scared the shit out of them. Strikes r the most effective way to stop profits, get demands, & force policy changes

If u can shut down profit, u can make any politician do anything. https://t.co/Gk9jt4u8zO

— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) September 24, 2025

Genocide-apologists have called for Israel to consider any entrance into Palestinian waters as an act of war:

So Israel is openly risking a NATO confrontation just to starve Gaza? https://t.co/L8k7r8jjBG

— 𝙎👼🏻 (@SZade15) September 24, 2025

UN expert Francesca Albanese called for other European nations to join the protection of the flotilla and to help “break the blockade” once and for all:

Thank you Spain.

I implore other countries to mobilise their fleet to grant the flotilla safe sailing to Gaza, and deploy a real humanitarian convoy to break the blockade.

That's what people want. That's what humanity commands.

If not in the time of a Genocide, when?? https://t.co/3fWiJ3frHT

— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) September 24, 2025

As she rightly said, if opposing genocide isn’t the moment for people and countries to take a firm stand for humanity, what the hell is? This is why Zack Polanski’s stance is so important.

Featured image via the Canary