As part of an international maritime initiative aimed at distributing humanitarian aid to Gaza’s starving population, a global fleet of boats is gearing up to sail for the region.
The first convoy, which will arrive in Tunisia on September 4 and consists of dozens of small civilian vessels carrying activists, doctors, nurses, seafarers, and humanitarian supplies, is scheduled to leave from Spanish ports on August 31.
More than 50 ships and delegations from at least 44 nations are gathered together for the Global Sumud Flotilla, according to organizers, making it the largest maritime mission to Gaza.
Which nations are participating?
As part of the largest maritime mission to end Israel’s illegal siege, delegations from 44 nations have already agreed to sail to Gaza, according to the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The flotilla will include nations like Australia, Brazil, South Africa, and numerous other European nations from six different continents.
Participants don’t belong to any political party or government, according to the group.
Who are the participating groups?
Four significant coalitions, including those who have previously participated in land and sea missions to Gaza, are organizing this mission:
- Global Movement to Gaza (GMTG): A grassroots movement organizing global solidarity marches to end the siege of Gaza.
- Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC): With 15 years of experience operating ships, including ships like the Madleen and Handala, FFC provides practical guidance, hands-on advice, guidance, and operational support for the ongoing efforts to break the Gaza blockade.
- The Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, formerly known as the Sumud Convoy, is a North African-based initiative that sends solidarity missions to Palestinian communities.
- Sumud Nusantara, a people-led convoy from Malaysia and eight other nations, aims to end the blockade in Gaza and foster global South solidarity.
They will collectively form the largest civilian flotilla ever to be coordinated.
Who are the involved parties?
The coalition, which includes organisers, humanitarians, doctors, artists, clergy, lawyers, and sailors, is made up of people who share the same belief as the Global Sumud Flotilla website and who also share a common belief: the siege and genocide must end.
Greta Thunberg, a historian in Sweden, Kleoniki Alexopoulou, a socioscientist and lawyer, Karen Moynihan, a social scientist and activist, Saif Abukeshek, Muhammad Nadir al-Nuri, activist Marouan Ben Guettaia, activist Wael Nawar, activist Hayfa Mansouri, activist and social researcher, and activist Torkia Chaibi are just a few members of the steering committee.
Tens of thousands of people have signed up to take part in the initiative, despite the fact that hundreds will sail from the organized fleet.
How long will it take the ships to arrive in Gaza and when?
Saif Abukeshek stated in a press briefing from Barcelona’s Placa del Rei that the precise number would be later and that security concerns had prevented the specific ports and ships from being disclosed.
The fleet’s estimated 3, 000 km (1, 620 nautical miles) journey to Gaza will take between seven and eight days, according to the group.
Why do people need to send aid by sea, and what is a flotilla?
A flotilla is a group of ships or boats tasked with delivering essential supplies, including food, medicine, and other goods, to areas in need. When traditional supply routes, such as air and land corridors, are blocked or inaccessible, they are typically organized.
Israel has tight control over Gaza’s airspace and territorial waters since 2007 and has since slowed down movement of people and goods. After Israel bombed and destroyed the Yasser Arafat International Airport in 2001, just three years after it opened, Gaza had no functioning airports.
Humanitarian and grassroots flotillas are typically governed by naval laws and are protected by international organizations.
The Sumud flotilla aims to confront Israel’s blockade head-on and send the message that the siege must end by providing aid by sea.
What happened to earlier flotillas?
The blockade of Gaza has been broken by a number of Freedom Flotilla vessels.
The Free Gaza Movement’s first naval blockade breach was completed in 2008 when two boats successfully reached Gaza. Between 2008 and 2016, the movement, which was started by activists during Israel’s occupation of Lebanon, launched 31 boats, five of which reached Gaza despite severe Israeli restrictions.
Israeli flotillas trying to break the Gaza Strip have been intercepted or attacked in international waters since 2010.
Gaza Freedom Flotilla in 2010
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.
Freedom Flotilla II in 2011
Following the mission’s completion in 2010, Freedom Flotilla II was launched in 2011. It was a coalition of international activists and NGOs’s intended use of Gaza as a humanitarian aid delivery point.
Freedom Flotilla III in 2015
In 2015, international activists made their third major attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The FFC-managed mission involved a number of vessels, with Marianne of Gothenburg, Sweden’s Marianne, leading the charge.
2018: Palestine’s Just Future
The FFC has been working to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The Just Future for Palestine Flotilla, also known as the 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, is a part of this effort.
Break the Siege of “Conscience” in 2025.
Just 14 nautical miles (25 kilometers) off the Malta coast, the Conscience was struck twice by armed drones as it prepared to sail to Gaza on May 2. The 30 Turkish and Azeri activists on board were forced to work so hard to save the ship from the fire that caused a significant breach in the hull.
The Israeli military intercepted 2025-Madleen, which was launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) on June 9 and is located about 185 kilometers (100 nautical miles) offshore Gaza.
Source: Aljazeera
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