Eleven more flotilla vessels carrying humanitarian aid are currently sailing off the coast of the Greek island of Crete towards the Gaza Strip in an attempt to break Israel’s “illegal blockade.”
The flotilla, organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG), began its mission on September 27 with the departure of 10 boats from San Giovanni Li Cuti harbour in Catania, Sicily, Italy.
On September 30, Conscience, the latest and largest boat in this historic flotilla, joined the fleet, bringing the total to 11. Around 100 passengers are on board, including journalists, doctors and international activists.
Organisers say the voyages aim to highlight Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis, challenge restrictions on media access, and demonstrate solidarity with Palestinians
Vessels in the flotilla
According to the live tracker
- Abd Elkarim Eid
- Al-Awda
- Alaa Al-Najjar
- Anas Al Sharif
- Conscience
- Gaza Sunbird
- Ghassan Kanafani
- Leila Khaled
- Milad
- Soul of My Soul
- Umm Saad
Huwaida Arraf, steering committee member of the FFC, described the flotilla as “a call to awaken the conscience of the world” in the face of worsening conditions in Gaza.
Italy-based surgeon Dr Ricardo Corradini said the mission was both professional and ethical: “As journalists and medical professionals, we carry the responsibility to speak truth and preserve life. This is an appeal to our colleagues and global institutions to break their silence and uphold their ethics.”
International appeal
The coalition has urged governments, international bodies and civil society to:
- Demand safe passage for the Conscience and all flotilla vessels.
- Take urgent steps to end Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
- Work towards dismantling the blockade and occupation.
In the past 38 hours, Israel’s navy intercepted 42 boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla, detaining about 470 activists.
In a post on X, the FFC wrote on Thursday, October 2, “Despite illegal Israeli attacks, we continue to challenge the illegal blockade of Gaza.”
The FFC, established in 2008, has launched dozens of missions attempting to deliver aid and draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza for nearly 18 years. In March, the siege was tightened further with the closure of crossings, blocking food and medicine and pushing the enclave towards famine.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli strikes have killed more than 66,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza health officials, while the UN warns the territory is becoming uninhabitable.
