The General Union of Palestinian Communities and Organizations in Europe strongly condemns the aggression carried out by the naval forces of the Israeli entity against the Freedom Flotilla “Spring Mission 2026,” while it was sailing in international waters on its way to the Gaza Strip, on a humanitarian and liberation mission aimed at breaking the unjust siege imposed on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
The Union affirms that this attack constitutes a fully-fledged act of piracy under international law, and a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions, the rules of international humanitarian law, and the law of the sea. It reflects an escalating aggressive policy targeting peaceful civil initiatives, and a deliberate attempt to intimidate activists and international supporters and deter them from carrying out their humanitarian and liberation role.
The Union believes that this crime further exposes the practices of the Israeli entity before global public opinion, as the activists, through their courage and steadfastness, succeeded in conveying the truth and revealing the reality of the aggression.
This represents a significant contribution to the path of international solidarity with the Palestinian people and reinforces the political isolation of this entity on the international stage.
In line with its responsibilities, the Union of Palestinian Communities and Organizations in Europe calls for:
•The formation of an independent international commission of inquiry under United Nations supervision, to ensure accountability for those responsible for this attack and bring them to justice.
•The European Union to take immediate and practical measures, including isolating the Israeli entity and severing political and economic relations with it.
•Urgent international protection for activists and solidarity workers in the humanitarian field, and guarantees against any attacks while carrying out their missions.
•Accelerating procedures at the International Criminal Court to include this crime in its investigations and prosecute those responsible as perpetrators of a war crime.
•Supporting popular and liberation initiatives aimed at breaking the criminal siege on the Palestinian people, and rejecting the criminalization of peaceful solidarity action.
•Immediate action to end the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, as it constitutes collective punishment prohibited under international law.
The Union also calls on the active forces in Europe and around the world—civil institutions, trade unions, parties, and human rights organizations—to escalate their popular and legal actions, and to pressure their governments to adopt tangible positions that put an end to these repeated violations.
In conclusion, the Union salutes all activists and supporters who took part in “Spring Mission 2026,” and highly values their courage and determination, affirming that these initiatives will remain living beacons of struggle, and that the caravans of freedom will continue regardless of the challenges, until the Palestinian people achieve their aspirations for freedom, dignity, and independence.
Union of Palestinian Communities and Organizations in Europe
30 April 2026
-Handala Association/ Belgium
-Arab-Palestinian Democratic Union/ Italy
-HandalaAli Cultural Center/ Italy
-Palestinian Athenaeum/ Madrid_Spain.
Ateneo Palestino
-Democratic Palestine Committee/ Stockholm_Sweden.
Demokratische-Komitees Palästinas-Berlin e.v
-Solidarity Group for Palestine/ Växjö_Sweden.
Solidaritetsgruppen för Palestina i Växjö (SPV)
-Integration Association/ Hovmantorp_Sweden.
Hovmantorps integrationsförening
-Bergamo-Palestine Friendship Association/ Italy.
Associazione Amicizia Bergamo-Palestina
-Sardinia-Palestine Friendship Association/ Italy.
Associazione Amicizia Sardegna-Palestina
-Palestinian community in Belgium and Luxembourg
-Palestinian Women’s Committees/ Berlin_Germany
-Palestine House/ Istanbul_Türkiye
