The Global Sumud flotilla set sail from Barcelona with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza and importing humanitarian aid. Hundreds of activists from around the world are on board.
A flotilla of around 40 ships bound for the Gaza Strip set sail from Barcelona on Wednesday. According to the organizers, this is the latest attempt to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to this Palestinian enclave. TASR writes about it based on a report by the AFP agency.
- A fleet of about forty ships headed for Gaza set sail from Barcelona.
- The goal of the voyage is to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid.
- The ships set sail shortly after 12:30 Central European Summer Time.
- The fleet will be expanded to include vessels with activists from Marseille and Syracuse.
- Since 2007, Israel has blockaded the Gaza Strip and controls its borders.
In their opinion, the organizers confirmed that the ships (mainly sailboats) left the Spanish city shortly after 11:30 a.m. CET.
Postponed sailing from Barcelona
The Global Sumud fleet (Arabic for “endurance”, note TASR) was originally supposed to leave Barcelona on Sunday, but due to adverse weather, the voyage was postponed.
It will later be joined by other vessels that depart from Marseille, France, and Syracuse, Italy, in Sicily. According to AFP, hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from dozens of countries are taking part in the cruise.
Previous attempts have failed
Already last October, activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla initiative tried to break through the Israeli blockade and deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. However, Israel detained them and subsequently deported them from the country.
The Gaza Strip, which is administered by the Palestinian militant movement Hamas, has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, AFP explains. Thus, Tel Aviv controls the borders of the enclave and checks the aid that comes to this territory.
