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Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Director of European Affairs Shannon Seban sent the following letter to President of the European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO) Ansis Zeltiņš on Sunday following the launch of a new so-called “humanitarian flotilla” seeking to breach Israel’s naval blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Dear Mr. Zeltiņš,
I am writing to you in my capacity as Executive Director of European Affairs at the Combat Antisemitism Movement to express serious concern regarding recent and upcoming developments involving an international flotilla departing from and transiting through several European ports.
On April 4, a number of vessels already departed from Marseille as part of this initiative. According to available information, the majority of the flotilla is set to depart from Barcelona on April 12, before sailing toward Gaza around April 20. A one-week stopover is also reportedly planned in southern Italy.
While public demonstrations and humanitarian initiatives are legitimate in democratic societies, deeply troubling reports and footage from Marseille indicate that certain participants openly called to “Globalize the Intifada.” This slogan, widely understood as a call for violence, particularly against Jewish communities worldwide, goes far beyond political expression and enters the realm of incitement.
Given the transnational nature of this flotilla and its expected presence in several European ports, this raises broader concerns at the European level. Ports, as critical infrastructure, carry a shared responsibility to ensure that their facilities are not used to enable activities involving incitement to violence or support for extremist causes. Furthermore, as Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union, any rhetoric or action that may be interpreted as support for or alignment with such groups warrants particular vigilance.
In this context, we respectfully urge the European Sea Ports Organization to raise awareness among its members and to encourage heightened attention and coordination regarding this flotilla’s activities across European ports. We trust that you will give this matter the serious consideration it deserves and remain at your disposal for any further discussion.
Shannon Seban
Executive Director of European Affairs, Combat Antisemitism Movement
The full text of the letter can be read HERE.
🇫🇷 Marseille, April 4: At the port, as the Gaza flotilla prepares to depart. The true face of these activists has been revealed with explicit calls to “globalize the Intifada.”
Anyone participating in this flotilla deserves investigation for supporting Hamas a terrorist… pic.twitter.com/OjC29RvNy4
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) April 5, 2026
Read more:
The Legal and Military Case for Israel’s Naval Blockade of Gaza
