Pakistani activists are among the 44 nations that have reached Tunisia to join the Global Samud Flotilla, to deliver aid and break the siege of Gaza City through sea. Gaza has been under siege, imposed by Israel’s blockade.
Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan is among those on board, traveling with campaigners from Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, the Maldives, Luxembourg, Oman, Norway, Spain, Thailand, and several other countries. According to the Flotilla’s official ex-account, the first wave of ships has arrived in Tunisia, where vessels are gathering before sailing on towards Gaza to deliver them food aid and essential items.
Israel has blocked the supply of these essential food items from entering Gaza City. Distraught with wars for two years, the people are now dying of hunger and famine in the city. The aid vessels and campaigners docked in Tunis on Sunday, September 27, marking the final stop before resuming their journey east. Crowds of Tunisians welcomed the first boats arriving from Spain at the port of Sidi Bou Said near the capital.
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Organisers said around 20 vessels are expected to dock in Tunisia over the next two days before setting off to Spain. While in Navarre, the committee member of the Flotilla told that Tunisian vessels will join the convoy when it departs from Benissi with additional boats linking up off the Italian coast. Around 150 activists are taking part, including Tunisians, Turkish citizens, and campaigners from across Europe, Africa, and Asia. The first group set sail from Barcelona on 22 August, followed by another that departed Italy last week. Organisers say their mission seeks to draw global attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
International observers declared famine in northern Gaza last month, while Israel has kept the territory under tight blockade since March, permitting only limited aid deliveries. The conflict has devastated the enclave, with nearly 64,400 Palestinians having died since Israel’s relentless military campaign started in October 2023.
The Flotilla plans to remain in Tunis for two days to stock up on food and water before sailing for Gaza on 10 September. Prominent figures, including Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela and French actress Adile Haniel, joined volunteers preparing to continue the voyage. The convoy, consisting of nearly 20 ships, hopes to break the Israeli siege and highlight what organisers describe as a dire humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.