Latest news with #HaifaMansouri
Roya News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Largest civilian flotilla to challenge "Israeli" Gaza blockade in late August
A massive civilian flotilla involving activists from over 40 countries is set to launch at the end of August in an unprecedented attempt to breach "Israel's" blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid by sea. The initiative was announced during a press conference in Tunis, organized by the Joint Action Coordination for Palestine, a civil society platform coordinating the international campaign. According to organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, dozens of boats of varying sizes will depart from ports worldwide and converge on Gaza in what they describe as the largest civilian maritime effort in history aimed at confronting the siege. 'This summer, the world will witness a coordinated civilian uprising at sea,' said Haifa Mansouri, one of the lead organizers. 'Our goal is to break the illegal blockade, establish a humanitarian corridor, and stand against the genocide unfolding in Gaza.' The flotilla merges four separate movements: the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, the Global Movement to Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, and Sumud Nusantara. The first fleet is scheduled to depart from Spanish ports on August 31, followed by another from Tunisia on September 4. Over 6,000 activists have already signed up to join the effort, according to Seif Abu Keshk, another flotilla organizer. 'Participants will receive training at departure points, and solidarity encampments and public events are planned along the journey,' he said. 'This is more than a protest—it's a civilian mission to challenge global indifference and apply pressure on governments to end the blockade,' Abu Keshk added. The announcement comes just days after "Israeli" naval forces intercepted the Handala aid ship on July 26, diverting it to Ashdod port as it approached Gaza's coast. The ship had reached about 70 nautical miles from shore, further than many previous attempts.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Massive civilian flotilla set to sail for Gaza late August to break Israeli siege
Massive civilian flotilla set to sail for Gaza late August to break Israeli siege Bernama TUNIS, Tunisia/ISTANBUL: A massive civilian flotilla is set to depart for the Gaza Strip at the end of August in a new bid to break Israel's blockade that has left the territory's entire population on the verge of famine. Speaking at a press conference in Tunis hosted by the Joint Action Coordination for Palestine, a civil society coordination platform, members of the Global Sumud Flotilla said activists from 44 countries have signed up for the coordinated effort. "This summer, dozens of boats, both large and small, will set sail from ports across the world, converging on Gaza in the largest civilian flotilla of its kind in history," Anadolu Ajansi reported organiser Haifa Mansouri said. The flotilla brings together four initiatives: the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, the Global Movement to Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, and Sumud Nusantara. Their united aim, Mansouri said, is to "break the illegal blockade on Gaza by sea, establish a humanitarian corridor, and confront the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people." The first convoy will leave Spanish ports on Aug 31, followed by a second from Tunisian ports on Sept 4. Seif Abu Keshk, another organiser, said more than 6,000 activists have already registered online to join. "Participants will undergo training at departure points, with solidarity events and encampments planned along the way," he added. "This is a renewed attempt to pressure governments by sending dozens of ships and thousands of activists to break Gaza's blockade," Abu Keshk noted. The announcement comes days after Israeli naval forces intercepted the Handala aid ship on July 26 as it neared Gaza's shores and escorted it to Ashdod Port. The vessel had reached about 70 nautical miles from Gaza, surpassing the distance covered by the Madleen, which made it 110 miles before being stopped, according to the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza. Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct 7, 2023, killing nearly 61,000 Palestinians, almost half of them women and children. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine. – BERNAMA-
