Greta Thunberg has set sail for Gaza as a part of the most important flotilla of boats carrying support for the Strip.
The 22-year-old, who was carrying a “we are all Palestine Action” T-shirt, was cheered on by hundreds of supporters waving Palestinian flags as she and different activists set off from Barcelona’s port on Sunday morning.
“This is a mission to challenge the extremely violent, business-as-usual international system that is failing to uphold international law,” Thunberg advised the gang earlier than the departure of the flotilla of dozens of boats, set to be joined by extra support ships from Greece, Italy and Tunisia.
Thunberg already tried to succeed in Gaza on board a British-flagged yacht in June, however she and different activists have been detained by Israeli forces and deported.
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Thunberg and activist Saif Abukeshek. Pic: Reuters/Nacho Doce
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Thunberg and different activists leaving Barcelona. Pic: Reuters/Nacho Doce
Thunberg, who’s amongst a whole bunch of individuals from 44 international locations on the flotilla, hopes their mission will carry symbolic support and assist open up a humanitarian hall to ship extra support.
She stated on Saturday that the activists’ aim is to ship “hope and solidarity to the people of Gaza, showing a clear signal that the world has not forgotten about you”.
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Individuals collect on the day of the departure of the flotilla. Pic: Reuters/Eva Manez
Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza after Hamas took management of the coastal enclave in 2007 and has blocked quite a few makes an attempt to succeed in Gaza since, together with a vessel in 2010 by its particular forces, during which a minimum of 9 Turkish activists have been killed.
Israel argues the blockade is critical to cease weapons from being smuggled to Hamas, and known as Thunberg’s earlier try to succeed in Gaza a propaganda stunt in help of Hamas.
“I’m terrified to see that we seem to have lost all the humanity that we have, and there seems to be no compassion left in the world amongst the vast majority of people who are able to sit on the couch and watch the genocide unfold that I am terrified for,” Thunberg added.
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The flotilla departed from the port of Barcelona on Sunday. Pic: Reuters/Bruna Casas
The naval blockade has remained in place by means of conflicts, together with the present warfare, which started when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing greater than 1,200 individuals and taking 251 hostages.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive towards Hamas has since killed greater than 63,000 Palestinians, based on the Hamas-run Gaza well being ministry, whereas a part of the Strip is affected by famine, based on a worldwide starvation monitor – one thing Israel denies.
