Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella Doomscroll 40: David Adler
Feb 2, 2026
David Adler, general coordinator of the Progressive International and activist, recounts his time aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. He tells of drone attacks, naval interception and boarding in international waters. He describes detention, harsh treatment, communications jamming, and the politics of international solidarity. The conversation closes with lessons on sustaining pressure and solidarity for Palestine.
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Drone Attacks Before Departure
- David Adler describes drone attacks on the flotilla in Tunis, including incendiary quadcopter strikes on boats before departure.
- He recounts how CCTV forced Tunisian authorities to acknowledge premeditated aggression rather than technical failure.
Night Drone Swarm Off Crete
- Off Crete the flotilla endured hours of drone-delivered explosions and psychological trolling like blasting ABBA.
- Adler says the swarm damaged multiple boats and escalated international attention and protection efforts.
From Activism To Geopolitical Pressure
- The flotilla converted grassroots activism into geopolitical leverage, forcing states to provide naval escorts and raise the mission's profile.
- Adler frames that escalation as the operation becoming greater than individual boats due to global solidarity.