According to a statement from the organization and people accompanying the mission, the Global Sumud Flotilla, which transports aid to the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip, has been forced to turn back.
The Mediterranean Sea’s strong winds, more than 30 knots (35. 9 km/h, or 34.5 miles per hour), may have caused a problem for smaller boats in the convoy, according to the flotilla on X.
The steering commission of the flotilla made the decision to travel back to Barcelona’s La Vela port, where they arrived after 22:00 (10:00 GMT), according to Al Jazeera’s Mauricio Morales, while reporting from the Familia.
About three hours prior, Morales continued, the decision to turn the other way.
The flotilla, which had left Barcelona on Sunday, announced on X that it had conducted a sea trial and had chosen to wait until the storm had passed.
A second attempt to start is anticipated on Monday, according to Morales.
The flotilla
Difficulty of small, government-operated vessels transporting humanitarian supplies and volunteers make up the flotilla.
On Thursday, it had planned to meet up with a second wave of ships in Tunisia, but that has now come with a little longer notice.
A STRONG MEDITERRANEAN WINDS film with a delayed release delayed the global SUMUD FLOTILLA mission’s immediate release date. twitter.com/A4YDahLiJh
This is the third humanitarian flotilla to attempt to end Gaza’s Israeli occupation in recent months.
Israeli naval forces have previously tried to intercept boats in international waters without success.
The largest maritime mission to Gaza, which brings together delegations from at least 44 nations, is said to be the Global Sumud Flotilla, according to organizers.
In the upcoming days, more boats are expected to leave Barcelona, including those from Tunisia and Sicily, with the 20-some remaining.
The volunteers are
The Global Movement to Gaza, Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, and Sumud Nusantara are the four main coalitions that have organized this flotilla.
Australia, Brazil, Colombia, South Africa, and numerous other European nations are among the countries where volunteers are found. Participants are not affiliated with any political party or government, according to the organizers.
Greta Thunberg, a climate activist from Sweden, Thiago Avila, a former mayor of Barcelona, Liam Cunningham, an Irish actor, and Eduard Fernandez from Spain, are all on board the flotilla.
Many of the parties involved have participated in previous flotilla operations.
A number of well-known activists and figures are on the coalition’s steering committee, including activist Wael Nawar, activist Wael Nawar, activist Yasemin Acar, activist Marouan Ben Guettaia, activist Marouan Ben Guettaia, activist Torkia Chaibi, activist Maria Elena Delia, activist and social scientist Karen Moynihan, activist and activist Wael Nawar, activist Melanie Schweizer, and activist Melanie Schweizer, both from Avila and Thunberg.
Although two boats from the Free Gaza Movement reached Gaza in 2008, previous flotillas have largely been blocked.
The movement, which was started in 2006 by activists during Israel’s occupation of Lebanon, launched 31 boats between 2008 and 2016, five of which reached Gaza despite stringent Israeli restrictions.
However, Israeli forces have intercepted or attacked all attempts since 2010 and continue to do so. The Mavi Marmara was attacked in international waters by Israeli commandos in 2010. Hundreds of people were hurt in the assault, which caused a total outcry. More than 600 passengers and humanitarian aid were on board the ship.
When the Madleen was intercepted in international waters about 185 kilometers (100 nautical miles) from Gaza in June, Thunberg, Avila, and other well-known activists were taken prisoner by Israeli commandos.
Gaza’s desperate need
The activists’ most recent attempts come as Gaza’s humanitarian situation is rapidly worsening.
Israel has disputed the assessment, which was supported by the UN-backed famine-confirmed-in-northern-gaza-global-hunger-monitor-says”>Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, which declared famine in some areas of the enclave last month.
In Gaza City, which is currently under heavy bombardment after the government approved a plan to seize it, the Israeli army has ordered residents to flee the area.
Source: Aljazeera
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