Hundreds greet protest flotilla in Tunisia as it continues journey to Gaza
Activist Greta Thunberg tells supporters in Tunis that Israel is inflicting ‘mass starvation’ on Strip; hundreds more expected to join convoy on next leg
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More than 1,000 people gathered Sunday at a Tunisian port to welcome an aid boat from Barcelona carrying environmental activist Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian campaigners seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
“We all know why were are here,” said Thunberg. “Just across the water there’s a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel’s murder machine.”
European Parliament member Rima Hassan joined crowds at Sidi Bou Said port to greet the Global Sumud Flotilla.
“The Palestinian cause is not in the hands of governments today. It is in the hearts of peoples everywhere,” said Hassan.
She praised the “role that the people play today in the face of the cowardice of states that prevent any solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Hassan did not say whether she would join the flotilla when it resumes its voyage for Gaza on Wednesday.
Organizers said more than 130 people from various countries have registered to embark on boats from Tunis to join the flotilla.
The Global Sumud Flotilla calls itself an independent organization with no affiliation to any government or political party. The flotilla departing from Tunis had already been delayed due to “technical and logistical reasons,” its organizers said.
The boats departed Barcelona more than a week ago but were forced back to the port due to poor weather, heading out again two days later.
The flotilla is slated to attempt to arrive in Gaza later this month, although it is expected that it will be intercepted by the Israeli Navy.
In June, Israel intercepted another ship carrying Thunberg, Hassan and other activists, towed them to shore and deported them from the country. And in July, 21 activists from 10 countries were intercepted as they tried to approach Gaza in another vessel, the Handala.
Israel has accused the activists of attention seeking and carrying only a symbolic amount of aid that will not make an impact on the hunger in the Gaza Strip. Aid agencies have said that famine conditions have reached parts of Gaza, a charge denied by Israel, which says it is boosting humanitarian deliveries to the Strip and working to ensure aid is not diverted by Hamas.
The Times of Israel Community.