Gaza humanitarian flotilla departs Barcelona to break Israeli siege

The Global Sumud Flotilla has left the Spanish port city of Barcelona, with the stated goal of “breaking Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza”.

The boats started moving out of the port at approximately 3:30pm on Sunday, with crowds of activists, support staff, and well-wishers there to see the crews ofMauricio Morales, reporting from on board the Familia, one of the Flotilla boats, said: “The turnout was overwhelming, I think nobody was expecting so many people to wave goodbye to the volunteers. Spirits are high, people are strangers in this particular boat, but [each has] a particular role.”

Hours before their departure, Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg spoke out against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, as did a number of other high-profile people who were sailing with the Flotilla.

“Israel [is] very clear about their genocidal intent. They want to erase the Palestinian nation. They want to take over the Gaza Strip,” said Thunberg, hitting out at politicians and governments “failing to uphold international law”.

“They are failing to do their most basic, legal duties to act, to prevent a genocide, to stop their complicity and support for … the occupation and the genocide of Palestinians,” she said.