More than 1,000 people from dozens of countries set off Sunday from Barcelona to challenge Israel’s long-running naval blockade of Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla expects to reach the enclave by mid-September and will be joined by additional vessels from ports including Sicily and Tunisia.
A group of 10 Poles is aboard.
Among the Polish participants are ruling coalition Koalicja Obywatelska lawmaker Franciszek Sterczewski and journalist Patrycja Wieczorkiewicz.
“We are carrying mainly food and medicines,” Wieczorkiewicz told news outlet TOK FM, adding the goal is not only a one-off delivery but to “create a maritime humanitarian corridor so that aid comes regularly.”
A parallel departure from Genoa saw dockworkers rally in support, Politico reported.
A representative of the USB union warned that if communication with the flotilla is lost “even for just 20 minutes,” port workers would “shut down all of Europe” and immediately block all shipments to Israel, “not a single nail” departing.
The dockworker said 13,000–14,000 containers leave the region annually for Israel.
Organizers describe this as the fourth and largest maritime challenge to the blockade this year, with around 20 ships and more than 300 crew, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, leaving Barcelona.
Backers in Genoa collected over 300 tons of food and other supplies. On Saturday, more than 40,000 people, including Mayor Silvia Salis, joined a torchlit march.
“Every day I am proud to be the mayor of this city, but tonight, if possible, I am even more so,” Salis said.
The flotilla says it aims to arrive off Gaza’s coast in mid-September.
(jh)
Source: BBC, Politico, France24, TOK FM