The international solidarity fleet, consisting of more than 70 ships from 44 countries, sets off on Sunday to break Israel’s Gaza blockade and provide humanitarian aid, food and medicine. The movement is also trying to amplify the voices of Palestinians on the global stage.
Flotilla brings together several United Nations. Notable figures and human rights and environmental activists participated in the campaign. Organizers said dozens of ships from Tunisia and the Mediterranean provinces will take part on September 4th.
The ships departed from Barcelona, Genoa, Tunis and Greece, and thousands gathered at the port of Barcelona in Spain to evacuate them. The fleet is expected to arrive in Gaza by mid-September, navigating international waters off Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Gaza. The Israeli regime threatened to arrest participants as the fleet approached the coast of Gaza.
Speaking to Mehr News, Hassan Aghajani, director of international relations for the arts denomination of the Islamic Republic and one of the participants, emphasized that Sumud is the third grassroots fleet heading towards Gaza at sea, breaking the blockade and drawing global attention to Palestinian light-forming.
He recalls his previous efforts. A mudline ship targeted by Israeli drones between Italy and Mali. Then, the handler ship, which reached the Palestinian seas before being attacked by Israeli forces, was detained with 12 passengers and later deported.
Grassroots activities are the only way to challenge Gaza’s lockdown and save Palestinian women and children, Agajani said. He emphasized what Smood had learned from his previous fleet. This time, dozens of containers were recruited to deliver essential foods and medicines to Gazan.
Participants from all over Europe joined the Barcelona fleet and set sail for Tunisia, where activists from Africa, Asian and American are expected to take part.
Agajani explains the meaning of the meaning of smooth (“fudo”) and says, “The number of people participating in Tunisia, from Hollywood actors to social activists, increases every day.
He added that volunteers are trained to face possible scenarios from attempts to block or attack fleets to become conflicted at sea. “They are ready to resist and ensure that aid reaches Gaza,” he said.
In conclusion, Agajani said, “The Samud Movement is completely grassroots and peaceful. The participants come from diverse faiths. They are both Maslim and non-Muslims. They all declare openly. We are not afraid of the threat of Israel. Our lives are less valuable than the people of Gaza.
MNA/