In the chronicles: “Heading for GazaII and III” we recounted the vicissitudes of the Global Sumud Flotilla from the initial departure from Barcelona, on August 31, to the Balearic Islands and the arrival in Tunisia respectively. This time we will do the same with reference to the new departure from Tunisia to meet other ships on the high seas. The mission takes place in the context of the intensification of the Israeli offensive, including by land, the advance of the occupation and the worsening of the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people. The International Socialist League (ISL) makes an urgent call to multiply and massify the solidarity actions.
By Ruben Tzanoff
United and speaking out for Gaza
The first ships anchored in Tunis, capital of Tunis, on September 7. In the days that followed, the stragglers arrived and anchored in the same port or in Bizerte, where they finally regrouped. And on September 14, they left for the rendezvous in international waters with other ships from Catania (Italy) and Greece.
Difficulties and fine-tuning
In Tunisia, it became even more evident that weather issues, shipping incidents and political realities will continue to condition every nautical mile of the journey.
During the long stay in North Africa, the docked vessels suffered drone attacks and threats to GSG passengers of being treated as “terrorists” propagated by Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir. There were logistical obstacles and fuel shortages.
This delayed the departure for the final leg, initially planned for September 4, but did not alter the tenacity of the mission, but made it take new measures: relocation of ships to different ports, sea trials and adoption of more safety protocols.
Within this framework, the GSF coordination decided to reduce the number of participants in several boats.
Press release.
Committed support and warm farewell
During the stay in Tunis, the National Guard and the Ministry of the Interior denied that the fire on the “Family” was caused by a drone attack, but qualified the second aggression, in this case on the “Alma”, as a “premeditated attack” and announced “ongoing investigations” into what would constitute an attack on Tunisian sovereignty.
Much clearer and more determined was the popular welcome. Volunteers provided logistical support and participated in rallies with Palestinian flags and wearing kufiyas. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese was also in town. And thousands of people bid farewell to the flotilla as it set sail from Bizerte.
It is already underway to complete the Flotilla on the high seas to sail all together towards the final destination in Gaza, where they would arrive in an estimated nine days. The message from the Mediterranean to the world is clear: “The blockade and genocide in Gaza must end”.
Show of popular support.
Courageous and supportive activism
The activists – coming from different latitudes, political and social forces and independents – endure many challenges, obstacles and uncertainties, both due to external factors and miscalculations in the face of the enormous task built from below. These facts make it important to reflect the experiences in the Flotilla.
However, the reason that gives meaning to the mission is not in the sea but in the Palestinian lands, in the historical and present events that punish its people.
The reason that gives meaning to the mission
The GSF has its compass pointing to a clear north: to break the blockade of humanitarian aid, that is why it is taking advantage of the enormous global diffusion it has achieved to denounce the genocide, the attempted total occupation of Palestine, the ethnic cleansing and the famine provoked by Israel.
It is a great incentive to promote the multiplication and massification of unitary mobilizations, boycott actions and the demand that the governments break with the genocidal State and provide food, health and any other aid needed by the besieged people.
It is a courageous and supportive group of people who take on the task of spreading the horror unfolding in Palestine so that it does not go unnoticed and is actively fought everywhere.
This is what our comrade Cele Fierro, who travels in the Adara representing the MST of Argentina and the International Socialist League (LIS), does every second, in her communications and videos.
There are millions of people who are also engaged in solidarity actions, for example, those who in Spain achieved a “Historic cancellation of La Vuelta by popular action”.
Aggravated criminal escalation
The Zionist offensive, announced since August, has been escalating with increased shelling, destruction of infrastructure, demolition of high-rise towers, the declaration of Gaza as a “dangerous combat zone” by the Israel Defense Forces and the call for the population to leave the city for a so-called “humanitarian zone” near Khan Younis.
Since Monday, September 16, there has been an aggravation of the intense ground offensive with tanks supported by air strikes, helicopters, drones and explosive robots. The official justification is to “eradicate Hamas” and “recover the hostages”, although Netanyahu is not interested in them. The truth is that the actions provoke a forced exodus of thousands of Gazans, generalized famine, occupation of more Palestinian territory and are carried out with the explicit backing of the US.
An urgent call for active solidarity
From the LIS we also call to multiply the actions to demand governments to effectively protect the Flotilla against the threats and aggressions of the State of Israel and its accomplices and to repeat the examples of the workers in Catalonia and Italy who warned that if they touch anyone from the GSF there will be interruption of trade and strikes.
Every effort made in the activities contributes to the strengthening of a fundamental solution to achieve a just and definitive peace which, in our opinion, can only be achieved by defeating the State of Israel, the imperialists that support it and establishing a unique, secular, democratic, non-racist and socialist Palestine with the Socialist Revolution in the Middle East.
Global march for Gaza in Sao Paulo.
