Israel’s foreign ministry alleged in a statement on Monday that the Global Sumud Flotilla was “organised by Hamas”, and called on the flotilla to dock at Ashkelon Marina in Israel and unload the aid supplies there, where the foreign ministry said it “will be transferred promptly in a co-ordinated manner to the Gaza Strip”.
On Thursday morning, the foreign ministry reiterated the offer, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow the breach of a lawful naval blockade. Is this about aid or about provocation?”
Italy, which sent a navy ship to assist the flotilla, has urged the flotilla to accept Rome’s proposal to hand over the aid to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Cyprus, which would then deliver it to Gaza.
“It is a proposal that seems to have the support of the Cypriot government, the Israeli government and, of course, the Italian government. We are awaiting a response from the flotilla,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in New York, where she is attending the same UN General Assembly as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, also in New York for the UN General Assembly, said in a press conference its government “insists that international law be respected and that the right of our citizens should be respected to sail through the Mediterranean in safe conditions”.
How did we get here?
On August 31, 300 people, including Thunberg and Rafiq, boarded at least 20 ships loaded with humanitarian aid in Barcelona, Spain, and set sail for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. More ships joined the maritime convoy from Tunisia and Catania on September 7.
Scientist Julia Henry, a “normal suburban mum” of four from Hobart, Tasmania, is also travelling with the flotilla on Polish-flagged boat, the Huga.
“This feels like this will be the biggest thing I will ever do, knowing that this is a very small thing on the scale of what’s occurring,” Henry told this masthead earlier this month.
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The Global Sumud Flotilla is the largest civilian-led maritime mission yet against Israel’s 18-year-long land and sea blockade of Gaza, which has also been enforced with the assistance of the Egyptian military in the south.
Fifty to 70 ships from 44 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, are attempting to deliver food, water and medicine to Gaza, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirming last month that those in Gaza City are gripped by famine.
“I’m feeling probably every possible human emotion,” Thunberg told reporters in Barcelona ahead of her departure.
“I am feeling enormous grief for Palestine and for all other occupied people around the world. I am feeling joy and solidarity because we are able to mobilise so many people.
“I’m feeling extreme concern for the global developments we are seeing in the world where we are rapidly sliding into fascism and increased oppression of many kinds and also environmental destruction. I’m also feeling a huge betrayal towards those who are supposed to represent me, my government and the governments of the entire world.”
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