The global fleet of boats departed from Spain’s Barcelona on Sunday for Gaza as part of an international maritime initiative aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to starving people in Gaza.
In support, thousands of people turned up to show solidarity with Gaza and support the members who will embark on this journey.
The first convoy, consisting of dozens of small civilian vessels carrying activists, humanitarians, doctors, seafarers, and humanitarian supplies, is scheduled to depart from Spanish ports on August 31 to meet up in Tunisia with a second wave on September 4.
In a live broadcast, a small vessel was seen leaving the port and embarking on the journey.
The flotilla, which is carrying actress Susan Sarandon, activist Greta Thunberg, and others, departed from Barcelona for the Gaza Strip on Sunday with humanitarian aid on board.
According to a press release shared by the Freedom Flotilla official page, the Global Sumud Flotilla will try to break the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory and bring humanitarian aid, food, water, and medicine to Gaza as Israel steps up its offensive in Gaza City.
Earlier, members who are joining the flotilla addressed a press conference. “The story here is about Palestine. The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive,” Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg said, addressing the media in Barcelona.
“Israel [is] very clear about their genocidal intent. They want to erase the Palestinian nation. They want to take over the Gaza Strip,” said Thunberg, hitting out at politicians and governments “failing to uphold international law.”
“They are failing to do their most basic, legal duties to act, to prevent a genocide, to stop their complicity and support for … the occupation and the genocide of Palestinians,” she said.
The maritime convoy, comprising approximately 20 boats and delegations from 44 countries, will be joined by additional ships from ports in Italy, Greece, and Tunisia in the coming days as it navigates its route from the western Mediterranean to the Gaza Strip, organisers said.
Thunberg, Sarandon, and “Game of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham are some of the most recognizable figures on the expedition, along with activists and politicians like the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, and journalists.
Saif Abukeshek, a Palestinian activist based in Barcelona, denounced Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. “Palestinians are being starved to death because there is a government that is intentionally starving those people to death,” he said.
“There is a government that is intentionally bombing Palestinian kids and families every day for the purpose of killing as many Palestinians as possible,” Abukeshek added. “When you bomb hospitals, when you bomb schools, when you bomb educational centres, your main aim is basically to … end the presence of the Palestinian population.”
A flotilla is a group of boats or ships organized to deliver essential supplies, such as food, medicine, and other materials, to regions in crisis. They are usually organized when traditional supply routes such as air and land corridors are blocked or inaccessible.
Maktoob spoke to one of the organisers from the movement, who is in Barcelona and confirmed that 44 countries will be joining. However, the exact number of vessels is not yet confirmed.
Meanwhile, organisers from the Sumud Flotilla in Tunisia also said that they are prepared and ready to set sail on September 4.
Madina Meterkulova, a Dubai-based real estate agent who has been active in the cause of Palestine, spoke to Maktoob and said that Global Sumud Flotillas are a historic event and that they are carrying hope.
She shared her Instagram post where she wrote, “Today a historic event is taking place, Global Sumud Flotillas are sailing to beloved Gaza carrying humanitarian aid, food, medicine and most importantly carrying HOPE for humanity… I wish I was brave enough to sail… Gaza still not giving up on a hope to see you someday. InshAllah ya Rabb. Free Palestine, Free World, Filistin ya Rabb. I may not live in Palestine, but Palestine lives in me and lives in every human being who has heart, morals and compassion,” she wrote.
An Indian delegation was supposed to join but had to withdraw at the last minute due to safety concerns. Samara, a Kolkata-based activist and student, told Maktoob that she is disappointed because India was not able to join as a delegation.
“Due to a lack of an Indian delegation there, I wouldn’t be able to participate in the Sumud Flotilla. And in case there is violent interception by Israel, there would absolutely be no safety for me since I am a brown queer individual without legal backing,” she said.
She, however, emphasised that she plans on joining the Watermelon Flotilla, which is set to sail from Malaysia and is joined by hundreds of countries.
The maritime convoy, which will carry activists, European lawmakers, and public figures from a number of countries, is expected to arrive in Gaza by mid-September.
Left-wing Portuguese lawmaker Mariana Mortagua, who will join the mission, told journalists in Lisbon last week that the flotilla was “a legal mission under international law.”
Two previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza were blocked by Israel.
In June, 12 activists on board the Madleen were intercepted by Israeli forces 185 km (115 miles) west of Gaza. Its passengers, who included Acar and Thunberg, were detained and eventually expelled.
In July, 21 activists from 10 countries were intercepted as they tried to approach Gaza in another vessel, the Handala.
