Dozens of boats carrying activists and aid for Palestinians in Gaza set sail from Barcelona on Wednesday, in what organisers say is the largest civilian-led mobilisation of its kind against Israel's actions in the Palestinian territory.
Nearly 40 boats left the northeastern Spanish city, with more expected to join from other Mediterranean ports as the fleet heads east, according to Thiago Ávila, a flotilla leader. The Global Sumud Flotilla originally planned to depart on April 12 but was delayed by bad weather.
“We sail because governments have failed,” said Saif Abukeshek, a Palestinian activist and member of the flotilla's steering committee. “They want a society that feels helpless, that cannot act, that cannot mobilise. We refuse to be that society.”
The mission aims to revive attention to the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, where around two million residents are living in ruins with shortages of food and medicine. Last week marked six months since a ceasefire ended the most intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, but Israeli attacks have killed more than 700 people since then, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power in 2007. Israel says it is needed to prevent arms imports, while critics call it collective punishment. The flotilla follows a similar attempt last autumn, when boats were intercepted and seized by Israeli authorities, and activists including Greta Thunberg were arrested and deported.
Greenpeace Spain and migrant rescue group Open Arms have committed two large vessels to accompany the flotilla. “We sail because the people of Gaza have a right to exist and to breathe and to thrive on their land,” said Eva Saldaña, head of Greenpeace Spain.
