Gaza aid flotilla vows mission ‘unstoppable’, slams ‘baseless’ Israeli threats

The Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla denounced the “baseless threats” made by far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to designate activists as terrorists and confiscate the boats, asserting that the mission is “humanitarian, lawful, and unstoppable.”

The flotilla highlighted in a statement on Thursday that they are set to reach the shores of Tunisia, where they will be accompanied by additional ships before advancing to Gaza's shores with critical lifesaving humanitarian assistance.

In response to Ben-Gvir's plans to categorize Global Sumud Flotilla activists as terrorists and to take possession of their boats, the statement emphasized they will not be intimidated by the “groundless threats from Israeli officials.”

“Our mission is humanitarian, lawful, and unstoppable. To that end, the Global Sumud Flotilla strongly condemns the threats by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in an attempt to intimidate our participants and falsely brand them as 'terrorists," it pointed out.

It cautioned that these threats are “not only baseless and unjust but also constitute a blatant violation” of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.

The statement further noted that Israel's colonial-settler occupation has “long weaponized such tactics” and employed them against the “Palestinian people —criminalizing, brutalizing, and dehumanizing them.”

“This latest attempt to intimidate our coalition is a continuation of the similar violent strategy used against Palestinian civilians, journalists, medics, and international activists who dare to stand against apartheid and genocide,” the flotilla said.

Explainer: What to know about Global Sumud Flotilla's high-stakes mission to Gaza

Boats carrying participants from 44 countries are sailing to Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the Israeli blockade and demand justice despite serious threats.

The statement noted that the Global Sumud Flotilla remains united in its humanitarian objective to supply urgently needed food, water, and medical provisions to the Palestinian people, who are “enduring a catastrophic genocide, famine, and spiraling health crisis caused by Israel's illegal siege on Gaza.”

At least 64,231 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 161,583 individuals have been injured in the brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to official figures.

They urged the international community, the United Nations, and all governments to firmly support them and ensure the flotilla's safe passage into Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is continuing on its way to Gaza, trying to break the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory, where a famine has been declared.

Vessels, carrying activists and humanitarian aid, departed Barcelona on Sunday before turning back as a result of bad weather, and then departed again on Monday. Around 200 activists, politicians, and artists from 44 countries are on board.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, Spanish actor Eduardo Fernandez, and former Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, are participating in the voyage.

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