The foreign ministers of 16 countries on Tuesday expressed concern about the safety of the Global Sumud Flotilla headed to Gaza, and warned against “unlawful or violent” acts against it.
A joint statement was signed by Turkey, Spain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Slovenia and South Africa.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla has informed about its objective of delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and raising awareness about the urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people and the need to stop the war in Gaza,” the foreign ministers said.
“Both objectives, peace and humanitarian aid delivery, together with the respect of international law, including humanitarian law, are shared by our governments.”
A collection of more than 40 boats carrying critical aid left ports across Tunisia over the weekend, beginning the final leg of its journey to Gaza.
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The departure from Tunis was delayed by 11 days, after two ships were attacked by drones and a number of assembled vessels failed to meet the organisers’ safety threshold.
Israel, which has frequently attacked other flotillas attempting to break the siege on Gaza, did not claim responsibility for the attacks.
The foreign ministers said: “We recall that any violation of international law and human rights of the participants in the flotilla, including attacks against the vessels in international waters or illegal detention, will lead to accountability.”
Irish comedian Tadhg Hickey, who is travelling on the flotilla’s biggest ship, told Middle East Eye that the delays illustrate the “relentlessness of this mission”.
“We leave despite setbacks, whether they’re coming from within and we just need to finetune stuff, or they’re more likely coming from without – from people who just don’t want this mission to happen. The message of today is we go on regardless, on boat, unbroken,” Hickey said.
The boats are carrying aid provisions including baby formula and medical supplies, as well as more than 300 participants. Among them are parliamentarians from countries including France, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Algeria, Italy and Germany.
“We’re carrying a lot of humanitarian aid, but we’re also carrying a message of support from the peoples of the world that we are with the Palestinian people,” said Bruno Gilga, a spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Two independent partner ships are sailing alongside the flotilla: a legal observer ship carrying international lawyers, and an Italian-based sea rescue ship, Lifesaver 2.
