Two ships are set to join Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla after sailing on Sunday evening from the Greek island of Syros, according to AFP.
The Global Sumud Flotilla carries climate activist Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian activists who embarked on an international mission to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.
Approximately 500 people gathered at the port of Ermopoulis to see off the two Greece-flagged boats, the Oxygen and Ilektra, while chanting “Free Palestine.”
“This is the way to show Israel that it shouldn’t have the right to impose starvation,” Kostas Fourikos, a 39-year-old crew member.
The boats are carrying goods for the Palestinian enclave as well as five and eight people on board respectively.
“And of course to send the message of solidarity to the Palestinians, who suffer so much,” Fourikos added.
Last week, the Sumud Flotilla reported drone attacks on key vessels in the convoy in Tunisia.
Organizers and activists described attacks as deliberate attempts by Israel to disrupt the mission and stop them from delivering humanitarian aids to the Palestinian enclave.
Global Sumud Flotilla
Organizers labeled the ship as the largest solidarity mission to date, following two earlier attempts that failed due to Israel’s offensive.
With the goal of reaching Gaza by mid-September, the vessels set off from the Spanish port city of Barcelona to open a humanitarian corridor and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
“This will be the largest solidarity mission in history, with more people and more boats than all previous attempts combined,” Brazilian activist Thiago Avila told journalists in Barcelona.
European Parliament member Rima Hassan joined crowds at Sidi Bou Said port to greet the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission.
Organizers also noted that over 130 people from various countries have registered to embark on boats from Tunis to join the group before heading to Gaza.
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