Humanitarian Aid Flotilla with Greta Thunberg Set to Depart for Gaza

A humanitarian aid flotilla, featuring prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg, is scheduled to depart from Barcelona on Sunday. The mission aims to “break the illegal siege of Gaza,” according to the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla. This initiative seeks to establish a humanitarian corridor and address what they describe as the ongoing “genocide” of the Palestinian people. While details regarding the number of vessels and the precise time of departure remain unspecified, the flotilla is expected to reach Gaza by mid-September.

Activists involved in the flotilla assert that this will be the largest solidarity mission of its kind, gathering more participants and vessels than any previous efforts combined. Thiago Avila, a Brazilian activist, emphasized the scale of the mission during a press conference in Barcelona last week. Reports indicate that additional boats are expected to depart from Tunisian and other Mediterranean ports on September 4.

In addition to the flotilla, activists plan to conduct simultaneous demonstrations in 44 countries to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. Thunberg, who serves on the flotilla’s steering committee, shared her commitment to the cause via a post on Instagram. The mission will also include various public figures, such as former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and left-wing Portuguese lawmaker Mariana Mortagua, who expressed confidence in the legality of the mission under international law.

Previous Attempts and Current Context

The Global Sumud Flotilla identifies itself as an independent entity, free from governmental or political affiliations. The name “Sumud,” which means “perseverance” in Arabic, reflects the group’s dedication to their cause. Past attempts to deliver aid to Gaza by sea faced significant challenges. In June and July, Israeli forces intercepted two vessels, detaining the activists on board. The first incident involved the sailboat Madleen, with 12 activists from various countries, including Thunberg, who were apprehended approximately 185 kilometers (115 miles) off the coast of Gaza. The second attempt involved 21 activists from ten different nations aboard the vessel Handala.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated in recent weeks. The United Nations declared a state of famine in the territory this month, warning that 500,000 people face “catastrophic” conditions. The current conflict in Gaza intensified following an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,219 individuals, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 63,371 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, as confirmed by figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

The upcoming flotilla represents a significant effort by activists to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. As they prepare to embark on this mission, the participants remain hopeful that their actions will bring attention to the ongoing crisis and foster international solidarity.