The Global Sumud Flotilla is preparing the departure of almost forty ships that will set sail this Sunday from Barcelona bound for Gaza. The coordinator of the initiative, Saif Abukeshek, has assured that “the last time there were 24” (carried out in October) and He is confident that the mission in total will end up with “double” participation, around a thousand people. About 300 boats are expected to depart from Moll de la Fusta and, as of this Saturday, the boats are already docked. Abukeshek has pointed out that “What has not changed” with respect to the other mission is that Israel continues to commit “genocide” and “colonization” on Palestine. For this reason, he has highlighted the importance of the mission.
The activist stressed that, unlike the previous expedition, there is a “ceasefire.” However, Abukeshek has pointed out that The Hebrew army has murdered “more than 730 Palestinians” and maintains “its expansion” over the territory. The coordinator of the Global Sumud Flotilla has also noted another novelty compared to last year’s voyage: “The ships have been preparing since November.” On the other hand, as indicated, on the previous occasion it was done “in a month.”
Abukeshek regretted that, for the second time, this humanitarian journey had to be mounted from the Catalan capital: “These missions at sea are carried out because politicians do not do their job”. The person responsible for the initiative considers that they act “as a result of political failure.” The coordinator of the Global Sumud Flotilla has specified that, in addition to school, health and humanitarian supplies, it also “doctors, eco-builders and teachers will travel to actively participate in the reconstruction process of Gazaand that it is led by the Palestinians.
“There is a lot of motivation”
The activist has admitted that he would not like to organize this mission, but has insisted on the need to “act” in the face of the “genocide” and the “attack on human rights” that the Netanyahu government is carrying out. Despite everything, he stressed that “there is a lot of motivation” among the participants, although There are “risks” during the trip. In this sense, he has pointed out that the conflict in the Middle East “increases” them. Even so, the journey will be “evaluated step by step.”
Abukeshek has called for the Global Sumud Flotilla to be supplemented with “more mobilizations” in the streetand recalled the protests carried out last year in Madrid and Barcelona following the arrests of members of the boats. The coordinator of the maritime initiative has highlighted the importance of applying “more sanctions” to Israel. He has assured that it is like “a marathon” and does not expect “immediate” results, but he has guaranteed that “the fight will continue”.
Catalan representation
Among the 300 people expected to leave Moll de la Fusta this Sunday, about forty are from the Catalan delegation, with representatives from the Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya (IAC), CGT, Arran and Contracorrent, among others. For example, the delegation includes the former mayor of Montcada and Reixac Laura Campos (Commons) and the trade unionists Ariadna Masmitjà ‘Masmi’ and Jordi Gassiot.
During the weekend, at the Moll de la Fusta, various activities will be held such as round tables, an entity fair, intergenerational play spaces, circus and music, with almost twenty artists, among other things. Looking ahead to Sunday, the activity is also maintained with the addition of the performance of the Castellers de Barcelona and Ketubara Batucada, in addition to other musical performances. The humanitarian mission has scheduled departure time at 12 noon.
