In this episode, we speak with Juan Matias Gil, a search-and-rescue representative for Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

He tells us how the Italian government made it impossible for the medical charity to use its Geo Barents rescue ship, and about the Oyvon — MSF's new, smaller, faster rescue vessel.

He also tells us about the first rescue mission aboard the Oyvon.

---Support---

ko-fi.com/civilfleet

---Get in touch---

Twitter: @FleetCivil

Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social

Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social

Instagram: thecivilfleet

info@civilfleet.com

civilfleet.com

---Show notes---

For more on MSF, visit: msf.org.uk

Follow MSF's rescue missions on Twitter here: @MSFSea

For more on their former ship, the Geo Barents, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/tag/Geo-Barents

AND, check out episode 14 of The Civil Fleet Podcast, with the ship's search-and-rescue team leader Riccardo Gatti and midwife Kira Smith

For more on the Piantedosi Decree, listen to episodes 71 and 66

Want to hear how an out-of-date carton of jam was one of the reasons why one of the Aita Mari rescue ship was blocked from leaving port? Listen to episode 12.

OR, read this interview with Iñigo Mijangos, chairman of Humanitarian Maritime Rescue (SMH), teh charity which operates the Ait Mari: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2020/06/10/europe-will-continue-with-its-border-control-policies-and-we-will-continue-fighting-for-human-rights/

For more on the Sea-Watch 4 being detained for having too many life-jackets, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2020/09/20/europes-criminalisation-of-ngo-refugee-rescuers-reaches-another-peak-after-fifth-ship-detained-in-italy/

For more on the EU's funding of the Libyan Coastguards despite knowing about its human rights abuses, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2021/03/05/eu-urged-to-continue-support-for-libyan-coastguard-in-leaked-document/

In this episode, we speak with Diane Taylor, a journalist at the Guardian newspaper, about Britain's "one-in-one-out" deal with France, and about the British government's new, even harsher asylum-seeker policies.

Diane also tells us about the refugees she spoke to in France recently after they were deported from Britain, and about a group of asylum-seekers who went on hunger strike in protest against their forced return trip across The Channel.

---Get in touch---

Twitter: @FleetCivil

Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social

Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social

Instagram: thecivilfleet

info@civilfleet.com

civilfleet.com

--- Show notes ---

Read more from Diane here: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/dianetaylor

Here's a link to the opinion piece we spoke about in this episode: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/17/labour-asylum-plans-cruel-hype-old-policy-unachievable-promises

Read 'No safe place to go': people sent back to France under 'one in, one out' deal tell of desperation, here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2025/nov/18/people-sent-back-france-uk-one-in-one-out-scheme

Read Diane's article about the hunger strike, here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/26/asylum-seekers-uk-hunger-strike

For more on the hunger strike, see here: https://www.biduk.org/articles/bid-joins-hunger-strikers-in-detention-in-calling-for-their-right-to-claim-asylum-in-the-uk

For more on The Channel, the Illegal Immigration Act, the Nationality and Borders Act, the Rwanda Scheme, the Bibby Stockholm and more, see episodes 73, 62, 61, 57, 49, 44, 42, 39, 38, 32, 25, 21 and 17 of The Civil Fleet Podcast.

See here to read about the fall in net migration in Britain
https://blog.ons.gov.uk/2025/11/27/what-is-driving-the-current-fall-in-net-migration/

Want to know more about the British government's latest plans to introduce ID cards? See here: https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/digital-id-liberty-position/

And here: https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/campaigns/no2digitalid/

For more on Bosnia, see episodes 58, 59, and the bonus episode (which you can access on ko-fi.com/civilfleet)

For more on No Name Kitchen, see episodes 59, 58, 51, 41, and 6

For more on the Manston migrant detention centre, check out episode 32.

For more on Lithuania and Poland, see episodes 78, 64, 52 and 33.

See here for more on Humans for Rights Network: humansforrights.org

For more on BiD (Bail for Immigration Detainees), see here: biduk.org

In this episode, we speak with Peter from The Channel Monitoring Project.

He tells how the new project plans to monitor people crossing over from France to England, how the group hopes to counter the toxicity around this in Britain, and how anyone can get involved.

---Get in touch---

Twitter: @FleetCivil

Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social

Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social

Instagram: thecivilfleet

info@civilfleet.com

civilfleet.com

Join me at the Manchester Anarchist Bookfair, see here: https://bookfair.org.uk

--- Show notes ---

For more on The Channel Monitoring Project, see their website here:
channelmonitoringproject.com

Find their social media profiles here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566003603488

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/channelmonitoring.bsky.social

And Discord: discord.com/invite/ZnpQCMCjtc

For more on Channel Rescue, see episode 11

Read about the UK Border Force training to push people back to France, here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2022/01/14/uk-border-force-may-have-begun-attempts-to-push-refugees-back-across-the-channel-already-evidence-suggests

For more on The Channel, the Illegal Immigration Act, the Nationality and Borders Act, the Rwanda Scheme, the Bibby Stockholm and more on the UK, see episodes 73, 62, 61, 57, 49, 44, 42, 39, 38, 32, 25, 21 and 17

For more on the Pylos Shipwreck, see episodes 60 and 52

For more on the Anduril's AI system at the border, see this report from Migrant Rights Network: https://migrantsrights.org.uk/projects/hostile-office/the-digital-hostile-environment/ai-borders-anduril-autonomous-surveillance-towers/

For more on Refugees in Libya, see episodes: 79 and 29

In this episode, we speak with Lorenzo D'Agostino, a journalist who took part the Global Sumud Flotilla's civilian-led mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

He tells us about joining sailing from Barcelona towards Gaza, how its boats came under repeated drone attacks, and how the activists were eventually intercepted and kidnapped by the Israeli Navy.

Lorenzo tells us how, once in Israel, his captors treated them all like terrorists and subjected them to torture, before deporting them to Turkey. We also hear how most European governments totally failed to stand up for their citizens.

---Get in touch---

Twitter: @FleetCivil

Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social

Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social

Instagram: thecivilfleet

info@civilfleet.com

civilfleet.com

Join me at the Manchester Anarchist Bookfair, see here: https://bookfair.org.uk

--- Show notes ---

For more on the Global Sumud Flotilla, see the group's website here: global-sumudflotilla.com

Follow Lorenzo D'Agostino on:

Twitter: @lorenzodago

Instagram: lo_dago

And on TikTok: lorenzodago

Check out his website here: lorenzodagostino.com

Check out episode 19 of The Civil Fleet Podcast for more from Lorenzo

Want to know what Lorenzo and I were doing in Trappani, Sicily, last January? Then check out episode 54.

For more on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2025/07/29/american-workers-rights-activist-chris-smalls-beaten-by-israeli-soldiers/

Read this CBS report on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly approving the bombings of Family and Alma ship in Tunisia: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/netanyahu-drone-attacks-gaza-aid-boats-tunisia/

For more on Palestine Action, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2025/07/05/the-civil-fleet-podcast-stands-with-palestine-action/

Ben mentions the Libyan Coastguards firing on the Ocean Viking refugee rescue ship and the Italy navy failing to help. Check out episode 80 for more on that.

You can read a farcical (and now deleted) article on an Israeli government website claiming the Global Sumud Flotilla was organised by Hamas, here: https://web.archive.org/web/20251001154325/https://govextra.gov.il/mda/march-to-gaza/the-hidden-networks-behind-the-global-sumud-flotilla/

Ben mentions The World Transformed Festival. Read about that here: https://theworldtransformed.org/

You can read Lorenzo's article addressed to the Israeli people, here: https://x.com/lorenzodago/status/1973516145350287812

Read about Saleh al-Jafaraw, the latest (as of this recording) journalist killed by the Israeli military, here: https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending/tributes-pour-palestinian-journalist-killed-after-gaza-ceasefire

In this episode, we speak with Patrick, a search and rescue worker on SOS Mediteranee's ship the Ocean Viking.

Patrick is going to tell us about the Libyan Coastguard's attack on the Ocean Viking in August this year.

The tells us how the EU-funded Libyan Coastguards circled the ship and peppered it with bullets at head and chest height. There were 80 rescued people on the ship, including unaccompanied children. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Despite their attack on a European-flagged ship, the EU has said it will continue to fund and work with the Libyan Coastguards.

---Get in touch---

Twitter: @FleetCivil

Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social

Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social

Instagram: thecivilfleet

info@civilfleet.com

civilfleet.com

--- Show notes ---

For more on SOS Mediterranee, see their website here: sosmediterranee.org

Follow SOS Mediterranee on social media:

BlueSky: @sosmediterranee.org‬

Insta: SOS MEDITERRANEE

Twitter: @SOSMedIntl

You can watch a clip of Libyan Coastguards firing on Ocean Viking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BRP_MIIGeU

Also, listen to episode 75 of The Civil Fleet Podcast for more on SOS Mediterranee.

For more on Sea-Eye, check out episode 10; Sea-Watch, see episodes 70, 65, 43, 22, 7 and 1, and SOS Humanity, listen to episodes 55 and 31 of The Civil Fleet Podcast.

For more on Italy's distant ports policy, see episodes 71 with ResQShip, and 69, with SeaPunks.

For more on the Libyan Coastguards, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/tag/Libyan-Coastguard/

Read about the EU dismissing the civil fleet's calls to stop funding Libyan Coastguard after the shooting, here: https://euobserver.com/migration/ar9ad7ff4f (Unfortunately, it's behind a paywall...)

For more on the Manchester Anarchist Bookfair, see here: https://bookfair.org.uk

In this episode, we speak with human rights campaigner and Refugees in Libya co-founder David Yambio.

He gives us an update on Refugees in Libya's Unfair campaign, which demands the UNHCR change the way it treats people in need of its protection.

He tells us about the Book of Shame — which he and his fellow Refugees in Libya campaigners co-wrote with members of Refugees in Tunisia and Refugees in Niger.

He tells us how the book outlines the UNHCR's failures to protect people-on-the-move, in North Africa.

David also tells us how he found out that the Italian state used an Israeli spy firm to tap his phone and spy on him.

--Get in touch---

Twitter: @FleetCivil

Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social

Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social

Instagram: thecivilfleet

info@civilfleet.com

civilfleet.com

--- Show notes ---

For more on Refugees in Libya, see: https://www.refugeesinlibya.org

You can read the Book of Shame here: https://www.refugeesinlibya.org/book-of-shame

Check out episode 29 of The Civil Fleet Podcast for more with David Yambio

Read this interview with David Yambio on The Civil Fleet blog from when he was living in Libya: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/the-eu-must-be-held-accountable-for-the-crimes-it-has-committed-against-people-trying-to-reach-its-borders/

For more on the EU's support for the Libyan Coastguards despite its fears of human rights abuses, read this: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2020/02/21/eu-to-continue-supporting-the-libyan-coastguard-despite-its-fears-of-human-rights-abuses

In this episode we speak with Aleksandra from Grupa Granica, a refugee support coalition working at the Poland-Belarus border, and Ola, a member Szpila, an anti-repression feminist collective based in Warsaw.

They are going to tell us about the trial of a man called Bartek, who, in October 2024, provided humanitarian assistance to a young Somali man who wanted to apply for asylum in Poland.

However, the border guards pushed the Somali man back to Belarus without lodging his asylum application.

When Bartek told the guards that he would file a complaint against them and inform the media of their actions, they accused him of trying to "influence the official duties of the border guard," and even of threatening them.

The court is expected to give its verdict in the case on September 26. We'll try to get an update for you as soon as we can. Keep an eye on The Civil Fleet's blog.

Ola and Aleksandra are going to tell us all about the situation at Poland's border with Belarus for people on the move, and how the government has suspended the right to claim asylum at the Belarus border.

--Get in touch---

Twitter: @FleetCivil

Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social

Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social

Instagram: thecivilfleet

info@civilfleet.com

civilfleet.com

--- Show notes ---

For more on Szpila, see their website here: https://szpila.noblogs.org/english

For more on Grupa Granica, see their website here: https://www.sklepbezgranic.pl/en_US/index

Or follow them on Facebook: facebook.com/grupagranica

For more on Grupa Granica, check out episode 64 of The Civil Fleet Podcast

Read Szpila's June 2025 report on the criminalisation of solidarity here: https://szpila.noblogs.org/criminalizing-solidarity-report-on-anti-repression-efforts/

Check out episode 33 of The Civil Fleet Podcast for more on Belarus from the Lithuanian side of the border.

And check out The Civil Fleet's stories on Belarus here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/tag/Belarus/

For more on Poland suspending asylum claims for people crossing the border from Belarus, see here: amnesty.org/en/documents/eur37/9322/2025/en/

For more on We Are Monitoring, check them out here: https://wearemonitoring.org.pl/en/home/

For more on the US and Hungarian governments designating Antifa as a terrorist organisation, see here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/20/hungary-urges-eu-to-designate-antifa-as-a-terrorist-group