Rally in Tehran Amid Seizure of the “Samoud Fleet” in the Mediterranean
WANA (Oct 03) – On Friday, Tehran witnessed a public and student rally at Enghelab Square under the banner “Together with Samoud Until the Exposure and Collapse of Israel” in support of the Global Samoud Fleet.
Participants carried Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against Israel’s policies, denouncing the seizure of the aid flotilla. They described Israel’s action—detaining dozens of ships and hundreds of international activists—as a “blatant violation of humanitarian and maritime law” and a symbol of Israel’s “structural violence and cruelty.”
Protests Across Europe Against the Seizure of the Samoud Fleet. Social media / WANA News Agency
The Global Samoud Fleet, consisting of nearly 50 ships and more than 500 activists from around 40 countries, had set sail in recent weeks with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to reports, the Israeli navy intercepted the flotilla over 100 miles off Gaza’s coast. At least 41 ships were seized and around 450 participants detained. Many of the detainees were transferred to Ketziot Prison in the Negev desert, a facility long notorious for harsh conditions and allegations of torture.
Despite the mass seizure, one ship managed to reach Gaza’s shores, which organizers described as a symbolic act that “practically challenged the blockade.” Civil activists hailed it as proof of the “fragility of the siege barrier.”
The developments have sparked widespread international reaction. Tunisian President Kais Saied called for the immediate return of Tunisian nationals detained in the operation. Across Europe, protests were held in France, Germany, Spain, and Ireland, while Italian trade unions announced plans for a general strike in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Protests Across Europe Against the Seizure of the Samoud Fleet. Social media / WANA News Agency
Israeli officials stated that detainees would either be deported under court orders after being transferred to Ashdod Port or repatriated if they signed return documents. In response, Samoud organizers branded the seizure of the ships as “piracy” and a “gross violation of human rights,” urging the international community to end Gaza’s 18-year blockade.
Friday’s rally in Tehran was held in this context—reflecting public outrage over Israel’s treatment of the Samoud Fleet while underscoring continued grassroots support for the Palestinian cause and opposition to the Gaza blockade.
