Large boat convoy departs from Barcelona in a significant endeavor to breach the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
In a bold move aimed at breaking the Israeli maritime blockade of Gaza, the Global Sumud Flotilla embarked on its mission on August 31, with about 70 ships departing from Barcelona (Spain) and Tunis (Tunisia). This is the fourth attempt this year to establish a humanitarian corridor to the Palestinian territory by sea.
The flotilla, consisting of twenty ships with over 300 crew members, includes activists from 44 countries, including Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Morocco, and various countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Notable participants include Spanish actor Eduard Fernández, Irish actor Liam Cunningham known for his role in "Games of Thrones," and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has pledged to provide "all the necessary protection" for Spanish crew members. The initiative received backing from the Spanish government, which has long been calling for unrestricted access to Gaza for humanitarian workers. Ada Colau, the former mayor of Barcelona, was present at the farewell ceremony for the flotilla.
In Italy, representatives of the Democratic Party and the Greens and Left Alliance have shown support for the flotilla and called on the government to guarantee protection for Italian citizens heading for Gaza. A food drive in the Italian city of Genoa collected over 300 tonnes of humanitarian aid for the flotilla. A torchlit march celebrating the flotilla was attended by 40,000 people in the city of Genoa.
The mission of the Global Sumud Flotilla is to deliver essential supplies such as food, medical equipment, and water to the people of Gaza, who have been suffering from a lack of water, electricity, and food for years. Over 63,000 people, many of them children, have been killed in Gaza by Israel.
Israeli forces have confiscated medical supplies and food intended for Palestinians in Gaza during past interceptions of similar flotillas. The organizers of the flotilla remain resolute, stating they will organize again if intercepted.
The final leg of the journey is expected to reach Gaza around Sept. 14 or 15. The mission faces the risk of interception by Israeli military forces, as happened with previous flotillas. However, the lack of water, electricity, and food in Gaza, according to Flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek, is intentional.
Mariana Mortágua, MP and coordinator of the Left Bloc in Portugal, is part of the Portuguese crew for the flotilla. The Global Sumud Flotilla's journey serves as a testament to the international community's commitment to humanitarian aid and the pursuit of peace in Gaza.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Enemy Forces Have Taken Ukrainian Prisoner
- BJP Persuaded Delhi Voters That Supporting AAP Was Pointless, According to Pavan K. Varma
- Potential Democratic Contenders for Presidency in 2028 Yet to Exclude Themselves from Race
