Largest Naval Fleet to Break Blockade Departs for Gaza Today
The global Freedom Fleet is departing today, Sunday, from Barcelona, Spain, heading toward the Gaza Strip. Organized with participants from 44 countries, this fleet aims to break the Israeli regime’s oppressive blockade on Gaza.Saif Abu kashk, spokesperson for the fleet, stated: “This initiative will relentlessly strive to break the blockade and stop the genocide in Gaza.”
Addressing potential challenges and risks along the sea route to Gaza, Abu Kashk told Anadolu News Agency: ”We are aware that Israel might carry out violent actions against us during our journey.”
He emphasized that “no potential danger compares to what Palestinians face daily in Gaza.”
Abu Kashk added: “Our first message to the people of Gaza is: we have arrived late but will never surrender.we will tirelessly work to break the siege and halt genocide.”
He stressed that this fleet’s message to the world is a call for accountability: “Everyone must ask themselves what they have done to prevent genocide.We can only organize ourselves and mobilize efforts; it is indeed our moral duty.”
Thousands gathered in Barcelona to see off thes vessels and show support for what has become history’s largest non-governmental naval flotilla aimed at stopping Israel’s ongoing atrocities in gaza. The fleet comprises members from Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Global Movement for Gaza, Caravan of Steadfastness, and a resistance organization based in Malaysia – collectively involving thousands of activists.
The previous week in barcelona, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila told reporters this would be “the largest solidarity mission ever,” noting that both participant numbers and ships exceeded any earlier efforts attempting access to Gaza.
Dozens more vessels from Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries are scheduled to join on September 4. Simultaneously, demonstrations across 44 nations will coincide with this flotilla’s launch.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg-member of Freedom Fleet’s steering committee-told AFP that these ships seek not only arrival at Gaza but also delivery of humanitarian aid while declaring a humanitarian corridor. She said subsequent aid deliveries aim “to permanently break Israel’s unlawful and inhumane siege on Gaza.”
Thunberg continued: “Such a mission should never have been necessary. It is indeed governments’ obligation to uphold international law-to prevent war crimes-and stop genocide; though, they fail miserably at these tasks thus betraying Palestinians as well as all humanity.”
The flotilla includes activists from diverse countries alongside European Parliament representatives and public figures such as Ada Colau-the former mayor of Barcelona. On Saturday Spanish Foreign Minister José manuel Albares affirmed his government would deploy all diplomatic and consular resources necessary to protect its citizens aboard these vessels.
This mission follows previous flare-ups where Israeli forces hijacked ships including Hanzala, Madeline Al-Damir en route toward Palestinian shores. Despite suppression attempts by Tel Aviv’s piracy acts at sea,those endeavors succeeded in raising international awareness against an otherwise suffocating silence surrounding Israeli aggression.
