Activists Challenge Israeli Blockade with Humanitarian Mission to Gaza

Activists from various countries are embarking on a mission aboard a converted trawler to challenge an Israeli blockade and provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Fellipe Lopes, the Portuguese media coordinator of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, stated that the goal of the mission is to show that civil society is not accepting of the situation in Gaza. Australian activist Michael Coleman expressed the expectation of facing resistance during the mission and emphasized that their actions are not illegal, citing the International Court of Justice’s call for unrestricted aid access to Gaza.

During a stopover in Malta, the Handala was visited by retired U.S. Army Colonel and diplomat Ann Wright, who had been aboard another coalition ship involved in a 2010 incident where Israeli troops boarded the vessel, resulting in the deaths of nine activists. The Handala, adorned with bright colors, is carrying activists from various countries including Italy, France, Norway, Australia, the Netherlands, Syria, and Palestinians. The ship has made stops in ports across Scandinavia and the Mediterranean to raise awareness about the situation in Gaza.

The journey from the Eastern Mediterranean to Gaza is expected to take a week, with the possibility of stopping in another harbor along the way. The activists are urging Israeli authorities to allow them and other aid shipments to reach Gaza without hindrance, emphasizing the importance of providing humanitarian assistance to the region as called for by the International Court of Justice. The mission aims to shed light on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and challenge the blockade imposed on the region.

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