Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail from Tunisia to break Gaza blockade
The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) began to get out of TunisiaWith the organizers and participants saying that they are determined to break the headquarters of Israel in Gaza and to provide humanitarian aid required by urgency.
The convoy started from the north of the port city of Bizerte with activists from more than 40 countries on board. His departure was delayed after two flotilla ships were attacked earlier this week.
On Monday, the main family of the ship was struck by a drone while they were moored in Sidi Bou, followed by an attack on the Alma boat on Tuesday evening.
No victim has been reported in the attacks.
The Hassan Massoud of Al Jazeera, postponing the Shireen Abu Akleh boat, said: “The world flotilla has sailed from the port to Tunisia to the Gaza Strip, its main destination, without any stops scheduled, 14 days after its departure from Barcelona.
“The ships carry food and humanitarian aid towards Gaza. Volunteers and participants said that this mission was not violent; They only aim to open a corridor to provide help to the Palestinian people in Gaza. ”
A number of eminent personalities have joined Flatilla, notably the climate activist Greta Thunberg, the Irish actor Liam Cunningham and the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau.
At least four Italian deputies also participate, alongside dozens of other elected officials and activists.
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, told Parliament that Rome had urged Israel to respect the rights of his citizens aboard the flotilla, including parliamentarians.
“Our embassy in Tel Aviv, under my investigation, spoke to the Israeli authorities to respect the rights of all the fellow citizens who are part of the flotilla, including among them several deputies,” said Tajani.
“I also called [Israeli] Minister of Foreign Affairs [Gideon] Saar to make him known personally. »»
Tajani said 58 Italians are among the participants and would receive consular and diplomatic assistance.
The organizers say that the Global Sumud Flotilla, named after the Arabic word for “resilience”, represents one of the most determined challenges to date at the Israeli blocking of the Gaza coast.
The attempt comes as the United Nations warns that more than half a million Palestinians face catastrophic hunger, with aid groups and legal experts describing the War of Israel against Gaza as genocide.
The attacks against the convoy follow the previous incidents in which the flotilla ships have been intercepted or targeted at sea.
In early June, Israeli naval forces intercepted the aid vessel Shy In international waters, entering its cargo of aid and holding its 12 -year -old crew, while in May, another ship, consciousness, was affected by drones near Maltese waters, leaving it unable to continue.
