Global Sumud Parliamentary Congress Convenes in Brussels to Escalate Political Pressure as Expanding Flotilla Advances Toward Gaza [Multilingual PDF Available]

BRUSSELS – On 22 April 2026, as the Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest civilian maritime mission for Palestine in history, advances through the Mediterranean toward Gaza, political leaders, parliamentarians, and senior UN officials representing dozens of countries will convene in Brussels for the inaugural Global Sumud Parliamentary Congress.

"This Congress is designed to act in concert with the flotilla's mission, a coordinated moment of civilian and political pressure: at sea and in the halls of power simultaneously," stated Lynn Boylan MEP, Convenor of the Global Sumud Parliamentary Congress.

Political leaders will sign the Brussels Declaration, which calls for the establishment of a UN-verified humanitarian maritime corridor to Gaza, grounded in international humanitarian law, the Law of the Sea, and the San Remo Manual on Armed Conflict at Sea.

Confirmed UN officials include Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories; Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food; Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation; and Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development.

Political leaders confirmed to participate include Sira Rego, Spain's Minister of Youth and Childhood; Dr Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative; Rima Hassan MEP; Jeremy Corbyn MP; and Irene Montero MEP, alongside parliamentarians and political leaders from Turkey, Serbia, Malaysia, Switzerland, and Algeria.

The Congress convenes at a moment of acute crisis. Over 18,500 civilians in Gaza require specialised medical care that the Israeli regime's siege has made impossible to access. Hundreds of thousands of children face acute malnutrition as the regime blocks aid at land crossings in blatant violation of international humanitarian law and binding ICJ provisional measures.

"Condemnation without action is complicity. Political leaders have both the tools and the obligation to urgently act on arms transfers, accountability, and international law," said Patricia Luévano, Steering Committee, Global Sumud Flotilla.

The Congress will address four core areas of political intervention: ending arms transfers and security cooperation with the Israeli regime; advancing parliamentary accountability mechanisms; establishing a durable international framework for humanitarian maritime access; and building a functional Global Sumud parliamentary network capable of sustained political action. The Congress aims to move from fragmented initiatives to coordinated leverage, where parliamentary action and legal strategies reinforce one another to produce concrete political outcomes.

The Brussels Declaration commits signatories to advance humanitarian maritime access as a matter of legal compliance, grounded in the ICJ's determination that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and that all states are obliged to cooperate to bring that situation to an end.

The Congress will be followed by a public mobilisation and cultural programming in Brussels. Further details will be announced in the coming days.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION & CONTACT
Email: media@globalsumudflotilla.org
Signal / WhatsApp: +44 1414 620 950
Website: globalsumudflotilla.org
Submit press inquiries here.
Follow our announcements on Telegram.
Social: @globalsumudflotilla

ABOUT THE GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA
The Global Sumud Flotilla is a civilian-led, international coalition challenging Israel's illegal siege of Gaza and standing with the Palestinian people through coordinated maritime action, humanitarian support, and international solidarity. It is registered as a Spanish foundation.

Website: globalsumudflotilla.org