Article by Viory
International politicians, activists and humanitarian organisers gathered in Barcelona on Saturday ahead of the departure of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a large-scale maritime mission aimed at breaking the blockade on Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.
Footage shows participants and passers-by walking along the city waterfront past boats flying Palestinian flags and painted with solidarity murals, visiting rights organisations’ stalls set up along the port.
Among those taking part are members of the Argentine Workers’ Left Front, Celeste Fierro and Monica Schlotthauer.
Fierro, who previously joined a similar mission intercepted in international waters, said the new attempt was caused by the ongoing conflict. “What drives us to sail again is that the genocide continues. A false peace agreement was signed.”
“While Palestinians continue to be killed every day, while Israel continues advancing over Palestinian territory and now, accompanied by US imperialism, as part of its history as a colonial enclave in the region, it is expanding into other territories,” she explained, referring to Lebanon and Iran.
She added that the previous mission came within 111 kilometres (69 miles) of Gaza before being intercepted by Israeli forces in ‘effectively a kidnapping’.
Schlotthauer remarked that the situation in Gaza amounts to a continuing humanitarian catastrophe and called for increased international action.
“In two years, the equivalent of six atomic bombs has been dropped on two and a half million people. That is the reality,” she stressed. “There is an intention to exterminate a people.”
The activist also criticised the EU for inaction. “European governments have navies. They could cross these 3,000 kilometres and arrive with far more aid than we are bringing and actually make it, yet they do not do it. So if the oppressed peoples of the world do not do it – South America, the Global South, Argentina – then no one will.”
The convoy, expected to include more than 80 vessels and over 1,000 participants from around 40 countries, including doctors, nurses, engineers and human rights observers, is scheduled to depart from Barcelona on April 12 and is the largest maritime aid mission to Gaza to date.
Article by Viory
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