Two ships departed from the Greek island of Syros on Sunday evening, bound for the Global Sumud Flotilla. This international mission is focused on breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza and delivering crucial humanitarian aid to the region. Witnessed by AFP journalists, approximately 500 supporters gathered at the port of Ermopoulis to send off the two Greece-flagged vessels, the Oxygen and Ilektra, which are loaded with supplies for the famine-stricken area.
Among the crew members is Kostas Fourikos, who expressed the mission’s purpose: “This is the way to show Israel that it shouldn’t have the right to impose starvation.” He emphasized the need for solidarity with the Palestinians, who are enduring significant hardship. Angeliki Savvantoglou, another crew member, echoed this sentiment, stating that the flotilla’s efforts aim to apply pressure on governments to halt their collaboration with Israel and intervene in what she described as genocide. “Eventually, we want this genocide to stop,” she stated.
The two ships are set to merge with a larger fleet dedicated to alleviating the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. A United Nations report released in August declared famine conditions in and around Gaza City, which is home to roughly a million residents; however, Israel disputes that there is any famine in the area.
High-profile figures, including environmental activist Greta Thunberg, support the Global Sumud flotilla, which positions itself as an independent entity not formally affiliated with any government or political party. The term “Sumud” translates from Arabic as “resilience.”
The flotilla’s journey has faced challenges, including at least two suspected drone attacks while docked off the coast of Tunisia. Despite these concerns, crew member Savvantoglou remained resolute. “I think we are all worried, but we’re also all very prepared for as much as we can be prepared for,” she said. She added that the difficulties they face during their preparations pale in comparison to the daily struggles faced by those living in Gaza.
In addition to the current flotilla mission, the islands of Rhodes, Crete, and Syros have seen protests aimed at blocking Israeli vessels from docking in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The current conflict escalated in October 2023 after a Hamas attack, which led to the deaths of 1,219 individuals in Israel, the majority of whom were civilians. In retaliation, Israel’s military operations have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 64,871 Palestinians, also primarily civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-governed Gaza. The United Nations has deemed these figures to be reliable.
