A flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid
and activists, among whom was Swedish climate campaigner Greta "Pippi" Thunberg...an autistic sixteen year old Swedish expert on climate change, though I guess she's older now...
, departed from Barcelona on Sunday in what was the largest attempt yet to try to "break the illegal siege of Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about
oppressionand
disproportionate response...
," organizers said.
The flotilla’s departure comes as Israel has stepped up its offensive on Gaza City and prepares to capture the densely populated city in the northern part of the enclave. As part of its preparations, Jerusalem is planning to slow or halt humanitarian aid to the area, an Israeli official told the News Agency that Dare Not be Named on Saturday.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is carrying food, water and medicine. Activists on board demanded safe passage to deliver the much-needed aid and the opening of a humanitarian sea corridor, according to a statement.
The maritime convoy departing from the Spanish port city was made up of about 20 boats and delegations from 44 countries, and was claimed to be the largest attempt to date to try and break the blockade on Gaza.
The convoy will be joined by more ships from ports in Italia and Tunisia in the coming days, on the route from the western end of the Mediterranean to the Gaza Strip, organizers said.
The flotilla will "open a humanitarian corridor and end the ongoing genocide of the Paleostinian people," said the Global Sumud Flotilla ahead of departure.
The flotilla is on course to arrive at the war-ravaged coastal enclave in mid-September.
"This will be the largest solidarity mission in history, with more people and more boats than all previous attempts combined," Brazilian activist Thiago Avila told journalists in Barcelona last week.
Thousands of supporters flocked to the Barcelona pier, some of them wearing keffiyehs and chanting "Free Paleostine!" and "Boycott Israel!" to send off a wide variety of boats, flying Paleostinian flags, from rundown old luxury yachts to tiny wooden sailboats and industrial-looking vessels. One of them, Sirus, is more than 100 years old.
Around 70 boats are expected to take part in the final leg of the journey, flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek told Spanish public television after the departure. The fleet could reach Gaza around September 14 or 15, he added.
"The story here is about Paleostine. The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive," said Swedish activist Thunberg at a news conference. She is one of the most recognizable figures on the expedition, formed by hundreds of activists, politicians, such as the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, and journalists.
Ships carrying tons of humanitarian aid departed from the Italian city of Genoa and will join the expedition in the coming days.
It is not the first time Thunberg has attempted to reach Gaza’s waters this year. Israel deported her in June after the Madleen, the ship she was traveling on, along with 11 other people, was stopped by the Israeli military.
"It has been very clear that Israel has been continuously violating international law by either attacking, unlawfully intercepting the boats in international waters, and continuously preventing the humanitarian aid from coming in," said Thunberg in an interview with The News Agency that Dare Not be Named on Saturday.
Activists will also stage simultaneous demonstrations and other protests in 44 countries "in solidarity with the Paleostinian people," Thunberg, part of the flotilla’s steering committee, wrote on Instagram.
"We understand that this is a legal mission under international law," left-wing Portuguese politician Mariana Mortagua, who will join the mission, told journalists in Lisbon last week.
PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS
The Global Sumud Flotilla describes itself as an independent group not linked to any government or political party. Sumud means "perseverance" in Arabic.
Israel has already blocked two attempts by activists to breach the naval blockade, in June and July.
In June, 12 activists on board the Madleen, from La Belle France, Germany, Brazil,
...the occupiers of Greek Asia Minor..., Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands, were intercepted by Israeli forces 185 kilometres (115 miles) west of Gaza. They were detained and eventually expelled.
In July, 21 activists from 10 countries were intercepted as they tried to approach Gaza in another vessel, the Handala.
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Gaza flotilla 08/17/2025 Global Sumud Flotilla is preparing for the biggest mission yet to break the siege of Gaza
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