Flotilla Sets Sail from Tunisia to Gaza Amid Hopes of Breaking Israeli Blockade

TDT | Manama

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A flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and pro-Palestinian activists departed Monday from Tunisia, aiming to challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza and establish a humanitarian corridor to the Palestinian territory.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, speaking at the northern port of Bizerte before boarding, said, “We are also trying to send a message to the people of Gaza that the world has not forgotten about you. When our governments are failing to step up, we have no choice but to take matters into our own hands.”

Approximately 20 boats, which initially sailed from Barcelona, gathered in Bizerte, with the final vessels leaving at dawn, according to an AFP journalist. Yasemin Acar, a coordinator from the Maghreb, shared images on Instagram showing the early departures, with captions reading, “The blockade of Gaza must end” and “We are leaving for solidarity, dignity, and justice.”

The flotilla had relocated to Bizerte following a tense stay in Sidi Bou Said near Tunis. The Global Sumud Flotilla reported that two of its boats were targeted by drone attacks on consecutive nights last week. In response, Tunisian authorities condemned what they described as a “premeditated aggression” and launched an official investigation.

European Parliament member Rima Hassan, who was previously detained alongside Thunberg aboard the Madleen sailboat during an attempt to reach Gaza in June, expressed concern over potential further attacks. She said the organizers had distributed prominent figures across the two largest coordinating boats “to balance things out and avoid concentrating all visible personalities on a single vessel.”

The departure had faced multiple delays due to security concerns, preparation setbacks, and adverse weather conditions, but organizers remained committed to pressing forward with the mission.