Two previous attempts by activists to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea were thwarted by Israel. In early June, Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen ship in international waters with 12 passengers, which was carrying a symbolic amount of aid to the Palestinian enclave.
Israel seized and then expelled all the passengers, including Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan. In late July, Israel also seized the Handala ship with 21 activists from ten countries.
Today's action is taking place under the slogan When the world is silent, we sail away. More than 20 ships flying the Palestinian flag are carrying hundreds of activists from dozens of countries. Among them are Irish actor Liam Cunningham, several European parliamentarians and Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau. They are expected to arrive in Gaza in mid-September.
Thunberg emphasized at a press conference today before leaving for the Catalan capital on the west coast of Spain that this time's mission, prepared as part of the Global Resilience Flotilla (GSF) initiative, is different from previous ones because it involves many more people with many more vessels."This mobilization is historic," said the 22-year-old activist.
She pointed out that Israel wants to wipe out the Palestinian state and take over Gaza."If this doesn't inspire people to take action, if this doesn't inspire them to get off the couch and take action, to fill the streets, to organize, then I don't know what will," she said.
Palestinian activist and board member of the initiative, Saif Abukeshek, stressed that this is a non-violent mission aimed at opening a corridor for humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza."We cannot ignore the fact that Palestinians are dying of hunger because there is a government that deliberately allows this," he said.
Thurnberg, who is also a member of the initiative's board of directors, announced earlier this month that they would be joined by a dozen other ships, departing from Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries, on September 4. At the same time, protests and solidarity actions with the Palestinians will be held in 44 countries.
The GSF website states that it is an international coalition of civil society organizations, grassroots movements, and individuals founded in June to nonviolently campaign to end Israel's illegal siege of Gaza. The initiative includes humanitarian workers, doctors, artists, and other activists from 44 countries.
