Departure of the flotilla from Tunisia to Gaza was delayed on account of logistical points.
Printed On 14 Sep 2025
The International Sumud Flotilla (GSF) has begun crusing out of Tunisia, with organisers and members saying they’re decided to interrupt Israel’s siege on Gaza and ship urgently wanted humanitarian help.
The convoy departed from the northern port metropolis of Bizerte with activists from greater than 40 nations aboard. Its departure was delayed after two flotilla vessels got here below assault earlier this week.
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On Monday, the primary ship Household was struck by a drone whereas docked in Sidi Bou Mentioned, adopted by an assault on the boat Alma on Tuesday evening.
No casualties have been reported within the assaults.
Al Jazeera’s Hassan Massoud, reporting from the Shireen Abu Akleh boat, mentioned: “The worldwide flotilla has set sail from the port in Tunisia to the Gaza Strip, its essential vacation spot, with none scheduled stops, 14 days after its departure from Barcelona.
“The ships are carrying meals and humanitarian help in the direction of Gaza. Volunteers and members have mentioned this mission is non-violent; they solely intention to open a hall to ship help in the direction of Palestinian individuals in Gaza.”
A variety of outstanding figures have joined the flotilla, together with local weather campaigner Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, and Barcelona’s former Mayor Ada Colau.
At the very least 4 Italian members of parliament are additionally collaborating, alongside dozens of different elected officers and activists.
Italian International Minister Antonio Tajani advised parliament that Rome had urged Israel to respect the rights of its residents aboard the flotilla, together with parliamentarians.
“Our embassy in Tel Aviv, below my instruction, talked to the Israeli authorities in regards to the respect of the rights for all the guy residents who’re a part of the flotilla, together with amongst them a number of members of parliament,” Tajani mentioned.
“I additionally known as [Israeli] International Minister [Gideon] Saar to personally make him conscious of the matter.”
Tajani mentioned 58 Italians are among the many members and can be supplied consular and diplomatic help.
Organisers say the International Sumud Flotilla, named after the Arabic phrase for “resilience”, represents one of the decided challenges but to Israel’s blockade of Gaza’s shoreline.
The try comes because the United Nations warns that greater than half 1,000,000 Palestinians face catastrophic starvation, with help teams and authorized specialists describing Israel’s warfare on Gaza as a genocide.
The assaults on the convoy observe earlier incidents during which flotilla ships have been intercepted or focused at sea.
In early June, Israeli naval forces intercepted the help vessel Madleen in worldwide waters, seizing its help cargo and detaining its crew of 12, whereas in Could, one other vessel, the Conscience, was hit by drones close to Maltese waters, leaving it unable to proceed.
