The Global Sumud Flotilla‘s fleet announced Sunday it was heading 825 km far towards Gaza as more ships are joining the mission to break Israel’s siege on Gaza Strip.
The announcement came as new boats and ships are joining the fleet. A new flotilla departed from Catania, Sicily, carrying European parliamentarians, politicians, activists, and artists to join the fleet heading towards Gaza.
Organizers have stressed in posts on social media platforms that the mission is not merely humanitarian, but political: “Our goal is to break the blockade and confront governments and institutions that enable Israel’s actions ,” they said.
The flotilla has already been targeted by drones causing material damage to several vessels, and Israel has warned it may use force to prevent the ships from reaching Gaza. French MEP Melissa Camara called for safeguarding the ships so they can “deliver aid and save lives.”
French parliamentarian Alma Dufour, also aboard the flotilla, said: “We are here because governments failed to act”, stressing that they were risking their lives to stop the killing in Gaza and Palestine.
The flotilla began sailing in late August from Barcelona, followed by a second convoy from Genoa on September 1, with more ships joining from several countries.
