While institutions remain paralyzed ordinary people accepted extraordinary risks. In September 2025 I joined the crew of the Thousand Madleens to Gaza, a grassroots coalition of young activists who transformed moral outrage into maritime action as part of the flotilla movement. Three months earlier they were scattered individuals united only by their refusal to look away, and determination to try and do something. Now they were raising funds for boats, recruiting sailors and planning to sail into the unknown to break the blockade on Gaza. I documented their final preparations and departure.
