The Flotilla, an example of collective effort that challenges governments, keeps moving forward. As it prepares to set sail from Tunis to Gaza, two of its boats were attacked by drones. Meanwhile, the Zionist army ordered new evacuations in the Gaza Strip to continue its criminal offensive. Cele Fierro is part of the mission representing the International Socialist League (ISL), which fills us with internationalist pride and reaffirms our militant commitment to the Palestinian cause. We call to surround the Flotilla with support and to carry out actions to defend it, break the blockade, denounce the genocide and the occupation of Gaza.

By Ruben Tzanoff

The sea imposes its own conditions

The regrouping of the ships that left Barcelona on August 31 in Tunis is still awaited. It caused the delay of the departure to Gaza, which was scheduled for September 10. The new departure date has not been confirmed yet.

This is due to the adverse conditions in the Mediterranean sea, that particularly affected smaller, older units or those with technical navigation limitations.

Cele told us about the experiences caused by the delays:

“The delay in the departure led to certain amount of concern and anxiety since we were not at sea, but it also strengthened the group that, without knowing each other before, without speaking the same language, knew how to understand each other and committed to do everything they could so that the ship could set sail. For eight days we lived together, dividing the tasks, cleaning, cooking, working with the crew, aware of everything that is happening to spread the word and denounce it to the media”.

Overcoming problems

Not all the enlisted ships arrived in Tunisia, some of them did not manage to leave Barcelona or were forced to anchor in the Balearic Islands (Mallorca-Menorca).

Others arrived in Tunisia late after suffering damages. One of them was the Adara, which sailed from the Balearic Islands to Tunisia towing the Catalina for part of the way, with an extraordinary effort by her captain, crew and all the activists on board. The boats Oyster Lady, All In and Isobella stayed afloat close to each other.

From the Adara Cele told us: “Meeting other boats in Menorca was important and to tow another boat. That shows solidarity, even slowing down our journey. The Flotilla has a growing repercussion and this makes the genocidal Israelis nervous but it doesn’t scare us.”

The Flotilla’s journey will continue to be determined by weather variations, the boat’s conditions and, of course, by the decisions taken in the face of the vicissitudes of political reality.

Getting ready to sail for Gaza

The ships that arrived first in Tunisia have so far not departed, while the later ships are arriving at various ports.

From Tunisia we received a message from Cele:

With each problem solved, with each wave overcome and with each stage completed, the activists’ strength to move forward is renewed. It will be essential that the ships regroup again to leave all together in a large flotilla to Gaza.

Threats and two drone attacks

The Flotilla is upsetting Zionism. The Minister of Security threatened to intercept the boats and to lock up the participants in Israeli prisons as “terrorists” for prolonged periods. The Family and the Alma were attacked by drones while anchored in Tunisian waters and, fortunately, no comrades were injured.

Criminal offensive for total occupation

Netanyahu and the State of Israel tried to assassinate Hamas negotiators in Doha, capital of Qatar, so that there would not even be any conversation and advance the occupation of Gaza. As a prelude to the offensive, in the early hours of Tuesday, September 9, they issued an evacuation order to Palestinians from the Gaza’s largest urban center.

It is essential to take to the streets massively, to promote the broadest unity of action in the mobilization for a ceasefire, against genocide, ethnic cleansing and the total occupation of Gaza.

All of us are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla

Many of the problems that the boats have can be explained by the fact that they do not come from a Naval Squadron, a Cruising Fleet or a Sailing Regatta with all the resources at their disposal.

It is a Solidarity Flotilla, assembled from voluntary contributions and the efforts of thousands of activists both on board and on land.

The message is clear: collective effort and organization can overcome the inaction of the authorities and challenge the inaction of governments.

All of us are part of the Flotilla! That is why we repudiate the threats and attacks on the ships, which must be investigated and punished immediately. We demand that the Tunisian authorities assume their responsibility for these events and guarantee the safety of the passengers in their waters.

The Flotilla at sea has the world’s attention. Barbarism can’t just happen in front of us as if nothing happened. The Flotilla is already succeeding since it is closely followed millions of people every day.

Break off relations with Israel and protect the Flotilla!

The sympathy with the Flotilla expressed by workers, students, artists, musicians, athletes, representatives of political, social and human rights groups, challenges governments and exposes their inaction and hypocrisy.

We must multiply the demand to governments to immediately break off relations with Israel and provide protection guarantees to the Flotilla.

From the river to the sea

There are governments of the European Union that, as a result of social pressure, criticize or take some partial measures that affect Israel, but do not take the critical step of a total rupture. At the same time they make it clear that they support the “two states” solution. Something utopian and that has already failed, the Palestinian people cannot coexist with a neighbor that wants to exterminate them.

A just and lasting peace will only be achieved by defeating the State of Israel, the colonizing gendarme of U.S. imperialism, and by establishing a single, secular, democratic, non-racist and socialist Palestine, as part of the socialist revolution in the Middle East.

We call for solidarity around the Flotilla

Zionists and their accomplices may resort to fake news, provocations and sabotage in an attempt to confuse public opinion and to frighten the mission’s activists.

And the longest, most complicated and risky journey of the mission is coming. Therefore, we call on organizations, personalities and activists for Palestine, to carry out activities of all kinds that surround the Flotilla with solidarity, to follow its route and to be attentive to the events.

If Zionism attempts to prevent their arrival, hijack ships, imprison or injure any of their members, the response must be mobilized, united and forceful, like the strikes announced by the dock workers of Genoa and Barcelona in case of aggression.

Let us not stop for a minute to spread the word about the Flotilla’s voyage, to mobilize and take action to break the blockade, denounce the genocide and the occupation of Gaza.

You can find out everything that is happening with the Flotilla from the following link: Global Sumud Flotilla – International Socialist League