After a stormy night, the solar shaft revealed that volunteers from over 40 countries carrying a compact fleet of Tunis’ 50 ships, namely the Samud fleet from around the world, are steaming towards Gaza, preparing to challenge Israel’s long-standing naval blockade.
After two separate incidents on September 9-10, the urgency of the mission has hardened. Meanwhile, Flotilla organizers posted a video showing a drone struck a boat in Tunisian waters. Tunisian authorities challenged the account and opened enquiries.
Israeli far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gwil treated participants as “terrorists” and urged officials to seize the vessels.
Organizers and volunteers claim that the voyage will respond to a humanitarian emergency in Gaza. There, health officials have reported more than 65,000 deaths, and aid agencies have warned of hunger and collapse services.
For many, moral urgency outweighs the risk. “We’ve seen live streamed genocide… there’s no concrete action by the government – it’s up to us.”
When the fleet left Tunis, its leader described the voyage as both rescue and testimony.