The Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian initiative aiming to break the brutal Israeli blockade of Gaza, has managed to set sail despite facing repeated attacks, sabotage, and threats from the Israeli occupation regime.

The flotilla, which includes ships departing from Spain, Italy, Greece, and Tunisia, is determined to deliver a message of solidarity to the besieged people of Gaza.

ILKHA correspondent Ömer Adıgüzel, who spent 15 days in Tunisia alongside nearly 150 international participants from almost 50 countries, recounted the intense atmosphere and the determination of the activists.

“For two weeks, we followed developments at the Port of Tunis. Despite repeated threats and even physical attacks on two ships belonging to the flotilla, the participants remained steadfast. Some of the vessels were sabotaged and blocked from leaving, but two or three ships were still able to set sail toward Gaza,” Adıgüzel reported.

He described the scene as filled with hope and resolve despite the risk of death posed by the Israeli occupation forces. “Even after being threatened by Israeli officials and knowing that the risk of being killed near Gaza’s coast was very high, the activists never gave up. They were committed to their mission to break the siege and deliver a message of defiance to Israel,” he said.

Adıgüzel added that although nearly 100 people had waited for over two weeks to join the fleet, including dozens of Turkish participants, only a small number were able to board the ships that ultimately departed. “The atmosphere was unique. People from all over the world—different races, different languages—came together for one purpose: to break Gaza’s blockade and stand with the oppressed Palestinian people. The mood was serious, hopeful, and deeply emotional,” he explained.

The journalist emphasized that the effort was not merely symbolic but a direct challenge to the Israeli regime’s illegal siege on Gaza, which has been strangling over 2.3 million people for nearly two decades. “The activists knew they might not come back alive, but they considered their mission a moral duty,” he said.

Despite being unable to board due to logistical challenges and attacks, Adıgüzel pledged to continue reporting on the flotilla’s progress and exposing the reality of the blockade. “As journalists, we are saddened that we could not physically join the flotilla. But we will continue to tell the world about this brave mission and the determination of those on board,” he said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla has become a symbol of international civil resistance to the Israeli siege. Its participants include human rights defenders, medical professionals, lawyers, students, and activists who insist that breaking the blockade is not only a humanitarian necessity but also a moral obligation.

As the ships head toward Gaza’s waters, the eyes of the world turn to see whether the occupation regime will once again resort to violence to stop them—risking another international crisis—or allow humanitarian aid and solidarity to reach the besieged enclave. (ILKHA)