Mediterranean Sea – Everybody gathered on the highest deck of a International Sumud Flotilla vessel loaded with humanitarian provides for Gaza and volunteers decided to ship it.
Safety protocols in case of an emergency have been reviewed and put into motion: life vests, head counts and designated muster factors.
They have been coaching for eventualities that might happen on any vessel – hearth, somebody falling overboard, collision.
However this coaching was totally different as a result of there was one other situation.
The volunteers have been instructed on tips on how to increase their fingers within the occasion that Israeli troopers intercepted the vessel, boarded it and detained them. The main target is on appearing in a nonviolent means, in accordance with their mission.
The flotilla was approaching the “yellow zone” after it departed from Sicily, Italy – the zone in worldwide waters between Italy and Cyprus the place Israeli assaults are doable – and it was time to practise tips on how to act if an assault occurred.
‘Outdated propaganda technique’
The Israeli Ministry of International Affairs just lately described the humanitarian flotilla, which is crusing to interrupt the Israeli siege on the folks of Gaza, as a “jihadi flotilla” and claimed it has ties to Hamas.
The so-called “Flotilla to Gaza” is brazenly backed by jihadi Hamas.
In Hamas’s personal phrases: “We name for mobilizing all means to assist the International Steadfastness Flotilla heading to Gaza.”
This isn’t humanitarian. This can be a jihadist initiative serving the phobia group’s agenda. pic.twitter.com/vciWdnTswC
— Israel International Ministry (@IsraelMFA) September 18, 2025
Earlier this month, because the flotilla set sail from Spain, Israeli Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir introduced that he wished to declare the humanitarian activists “terrorists” and detain them accordingly.
Flotilla steering committee member Saif Abukeshek, talking to journalists on-line on Saturday, stated such allegations are “psychological warfare” and added: “The propaganda is an previous technique.”
Within the coaching, a coordinator tells the gathered group: “We’ve got to determine collectively whether or not we’ll react or whether or not somebody ought to intervene if troopers start to beat one in every of us.”
The query was met with silence however couldn’t be averted. Holding a bullhorn, the coordinator took the initiative.
“If I’m dragged or overwhelmed, I don’t need any of you to react or inform the troopers to cease. Please respect my choice.”
The bullhorn was handed round. One after the other, the volunteers repeated the phrases. By the third volunteer, the phrase had been diminished to 2 phrases: “the identical”. All of the volunteers echoed it.
The technique was conceived to forestall additional violence. Any response – even asking Israeli troopers to cease – might provoke them to extra violence.
One volunteer summed it up: “In the event you react or converse up whereas being overwhelmed, you’ll not solely put your personal security in danger but additionally that of the others – and you’ll break the need of the group.”
One other instructed Al Jazeera: “We all know why we’re right here and the dangers we’ve taken.”
Psychological and bodily pressures
The delays and challenges the flotilla has confronted have taken a toll on its organisers and volunteers alike.
Drone assaults whereas at port in Tunisia, technical difficulties confronted by boats ill-suited to the excessive seas and the final difficulties inherent in organising an underfunded civilian initiative to sail to Gaza have put strain on everybody.
Each particular person on board additionally has to do an evening watch, scanning the skies all night time for extra drone assaults whereas their companions relaxation.
When requested what retains them going, every of them cites the urge to behave to assist the folks of Gaza, who’re struggling bombardments, hunger and loss as Israel wages struggle on them.
They know they’re crusing into dangerous waters as a result of Israel has intercepted all previous flotillas, even killing 10 folks on board the Mavi Marmara a decade in the past.
The boats had set out for Sicily from Tunisia on Tuesday with a diminished variety of folks on board after laborious selections have been made.
There have been extra folks desirous to be on a flotilla boat than there was capability on the vessels, particularly as some boats failed technical inspections – the organisers worrying about their capacity to deal with the unpredictable nature of the Mediterranean.
Lists have been learn in Bizerte, Tunisia. Crews have been reshuffled among the many boats, and tears flowed as volunteers who had cast robust emotional ties stated their goodbyes.
Their half on board the mission was over for now, however their assist for the flotilla sure for Gaza would proceed on land.
Some talked to the coordinators to attempt to get their spots again. Others waited with their colleagues on the boats, serving to out till they needed to return to a lodge to await their flights again house.
“Please put this [Palestinian] flag someplace on the boat. It has been in my good friend’s window for years,” stated Marcin, a Polish volunteer residing in Norway who was amongst these reduce from the crew checklist.
Ultimately, everybody boarded their assigned ships and met their crews. All fingers have been on deck to wash and put together the vessels for the following leg of the journey to Italy. A number of the volunteers have crusing expertise, and others with no earlier crusing expertise discovered rapidly to assist out.
After a couple of days in Italy, the boats have set out once more, crusing by the yellow zone, getting ever nearer to the purple zone, the place the hazard multiplies 100 nautical miles (185km) from the Gaza shore.
And the drills proceed.
