Dozens of vessels embarked from Turkey for Gaza with the Global Sumud Flotilla on Thursday, as part of a second blockade run after 20 of the activist armada’s vessels were intercepted by the Israeli Navy in April.
Ships associated with the Gaza flotilla were traveling south of the GSF and departed from Marmaris, according to the activist group’s ship tracker, with Marine Traffic confirming several ships had set out to sea. GSF also uploaded an Instagram story of at least two vessels sailing.
Several vessels that had set out with the flotilla on April 15 did not appear to be rejoining GSF after their interception near Crete on April 29. Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise appeared to be near Crete, according to GSF and other online tracking platforms.
GSF Steering Committee member Saif Abu Keshek, who had been detained on April 30 in Israel and deported on Sunday, had announced during a Wednesday press conference that 54 vessels and over 500 activists would be embarking from Marmaris.
“We sail one day before the Nakba, not only to commemorate the anniversary of the Nakba, but to act on it,” said Abu Keshek.
Abu Keshek had been detained alongside GSF Steering Committee member Thiago Avila, who did not appear to be joining the latest journey. Both were reportedly interrogated for ties to proscribed organizations.
The other 173 activists were deposited onto Greek shores with the coordination of the country’s government with its Israeli counterparts.
The Foreign Ministry alleged that the flotilla was a propaganda stunt and that the ships were devoid of humanitarian aid.
'Why do we sail?'
Fifty-six vessels had embarked from Italy on April 26, on a voyage to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza, with the declared mission of raising awareness and mobilizing further activism against the blockade. Israel maintains the blockade around Gaza to prevent the smuggling of arms and munitions, as well as the movement of terrorist organizations.
“Why do we sail? To bring an end to the longest-running siege in modern history,” GSF said in a Thursday Instagram post.
The flotilla had arrived in Italy to absorb a contingent of 25 vessels, with the original armada of 39 ships embarking from Spain on April 15. The flotilla had originally been set to depart from Barcelona on April 12, but was prevented by stormy weather.