The “Global Sumud Flotilla” is getting ready to set sail from Barcelona to Gaza on Sunday, August 31. It will include more than 50 ships and participants from 44 countries. Its purpose is to demand the end of the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian people and the opening of a humanitarian corridor. Our comrade Cele Fierro will participate in representation of the International Socialist League (ISL).

By Ruben Tzanoff

Perseverance and solidarity at sea

The Arabic word “Sumud” means “steadfastness” or “constant perseverance”. That is precisely the spirit embodied by this international maritime initiative led by civilian organizations. Its objectives are clear: to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, bring urgent humanitarian aid to the besieged population, establish a humanitarian corridor and mobilize global awareness of the dramatic situation in the Strip.

A long path traced

After setting sail from Barcelona, other vessels will join from Tunisia and various Mediterranean ports before setting sail for Gaza. The project is inspired by previous missions such as the “Freedom Flotilla Coalition and the Maghreb Sumud Convoy”.

The Flotilla departs in full awareness of the risk of being intercepted by Israeli forces, of the activists being detained, deported or assaulted despite complying with international maritime law and having regulatory protection for carrying humanitarian aid.

Final preparations

As has already been reported, our Argentine deputy, from the MST and the Frente de Izquierda, Cele Fierro will be part of this flotilla on behalf of the LIS.

Upon arrival in Barcelona, Cele and the other participants were warmly welcomed by the organizers. They are currently preparing intensively through training sessions, supported by the commitment and selfless work of hundreds of people.

Days for Palestine

The Moll de la Fusta hosts a varied agenda of seminars, children’s activities, events and concerts. The activities began today with an opening and welcoming act in which Thiago Ávila and other well-known activists spoke. They will continue on Saturday 30, and will culminate on Sunday 31 with a collective farewell to the flotilla.

With additional impulse

During lunch, proudly sporting her kufiya and a #FEED GAZA NOW campaign t-shirt Cele shared, “I met participants from all continents; personalities such as Greta Thunberg with whom I was able to converse, as well as other activists who feel the same outrage and concern as I do about the situation experienced especially by children and families in Gaza.”

The Flotilla is not only strengthened by the activists who travel but also by those who support it from the ground: crew members, participants and collaborators generate a collective momentum.

However, the momentum goes much further, Cele put it this way: “I feel that on every ship we will be joined by millions of young people, students, workers, and all the people who are mobilizing around the world to break the blockade on humanitarian aid”.

A historic journey of solidarity is about to begin, whose challenges and vicissitudes we will share along the way.

From the river to the sea

Meanwhile, Netanyahu continues to implement his plan to occupy Gaza, carry out raids in the West Bank and bomb Yemen. Only a united global mobilization, a socialist revolution in the Middle East, and the establishment of a single, secular, non-racist, democratic and socialist Palestine, will succeed in stopping Zionist violence once and for all.

You may also be interested in: “ISL will participate in the Humanitarian Flotilla to Gaza, in support of Palestine.”