Gaza flotilla sails on despite attacks

Along with drone attacks, the fleet faces a political campaign to delegitimise it

- Hasina Kathrada

As the Global Sumud Flotilla approaches some of the Mediterranean’s most perilous waters, more than 50 boats are sailing through Greek territory under mounting pressure.

On board are over 500 people carrying food and medical supplies, determined to challenge Israel’s 18-year blockade of Gaza.

The fleet faces drone attacks, explosions, chemical sprays and jamming of communications, along with a political campaign to delegitimise it. Israel has branded the flotilla a Hamas operation, a charge that the organisers have dismissed.

Earlier this week, the flotilla reported one of its gravest encounters yet when 15 drones circled overhead and 12 explosions were heard across nine boats. Rigging was torn, sails shredded and crew sprayed with unknown substances while communications were jammed.

“Explosions, drones dropping objects on our boats and communications jamming — all aimed at intimidating us and stopping this humanitarian mission,” Saif Abukeshek, a member of the steering committee, said.

The latest assault followed earlier drone strikes in Tunisian waters and the risks have only grown as the fleet entered Greek territory, where the international dimension of the confrontation is impossible to ignore.

The context in Gaza makes the flotilla’s persistence urgent. The health ministry reports that the death toll since October 2023 has surpassed 65000. That figure remains incomplete, as many people are still trapped under rubble, inaccessible to ambulance and rescue crews.

“Many victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it said.

These figures only hint at the scale of devastation. Much of Gaza lies in ruins after nearly two years of bombardment. More than 80% of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, many multiple times.