This is the biggest attempt to destroy Israel’s Gaza ocean blockade since the onset of genocide, with the fleet carrying a large number of essential supplies. With the intention of bringing food and medicine to hungry people, participants face attacks and threats from Israeli authorities and are forcing organizers to coordinate their plans on a recent day. “As a result of these changes and in anticipation of increasingly hostile circumstances, we had to make the difficult decision to reduce the ability of participants on some vessels departing for Gaza,” the coalition said. Among those returning home was Hanne Bossaleas, a Belgian doctor. He urged the world to draw attention to both the ongoing genocide and the progress of the fleet.
Similar calls for solidarity resonate throughout Europe. In Italy, thousands of people, including Naples and Rome, have pledged to halt the country if Israel attacks or blocks its fleet. Federal Union Union Union Cinda Kare DI Base (USB) announced its general strike on Monday, September 22nd in support of the mission. Left party Potere al Popolo confirmed it would take part in the strike action, with thousands saying it would “block the country” and in Rome on March 4, “breaking Italian accomplices with the genocide with the legitimate resistance of the Palestinians to support the Italian Palestinian reality.”
Organizers say the global Sumud Flotilla mission, which aims to break Israel’s naval blockade in Gaza, is the largest solidarity mission in history.
Sensitive to the threats facing the fleet, foreign ministers from more than a dozen countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Africa, have issued joint statements in support of the initiative. They expressed “concerns about the safety of the global SUMUD FLOTILLA, a civil society initiative in which its citizens are involved.” The statement also warned against attempts to interfere with the mission, declaring that the person responsible is liable for violations of international law.
MNA/