According to organizers, the first boat of the global SUMUD Flotilla left Tunisia’s Vizalte port and Sicily’s Augusta port on Saturday.
Video shared by campaigners showed aid ships departing from Tunisia for the besieged enclave cheered by activists and journalists, including Anadoru Agency (AA) correspondents.
The 18 Italian boats also set sail from Sicily after a week of preparation, organizers confirmed.
“They will unite with the ships departing from Tunis today and tomorrow, including the first one released from Barcelona, and we will meet at sea next week,” a statement from Flotilla said.
Anadolu reported that Italian opposition MP Arturo Scott is one of the Democratic Party and member of the European Parliament, Annalisa Corrado.
Additional boats are scheduled to depart from Tunisia and Greece on Sunday, and will gather in international waters before they proceed together in what organizers will describe as their biggest maritime mission towards Gaza.
“The world is rising. We will continue to challenge Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and will not stop mobilization until Palestine is free,” the organizers declared.
Nearly 50 vessels carrying 500-700 activists (including lawmakers, artists and politicians from over 45 countries) are part of the mission.
Previous attempts involved a single ship intercepted by Israeli forces, but organizers say the scale of the current effort is designed to enhance pressure on the humanitarian corridor.
The fleet leaves as Gaza faces catastrophic conditions under Israeli blockade. Israeli blockade cuts out aid and drives enclaves into starvation.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 64,800 Palestinians, and Gaza has become abolished.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister Joab Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel has also been accused of genocide by the International Court of Justice over the war with Gaza.
MNA