Twelve Canadians are taking part in a new flotilla that set sail on Thursday from Greece and Turkey, hoping to break the blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip for nearly 20 years.
In total, this international flotilla consists of 54 boats with over 500 people from more than 45 countries, according to the organizers.
This initiative, organized by the “Global Flotilla Soumoud” and the “Freedom Flotilla Coalition,” is the second of its kind in two weeks. The previous one was intercepted on April 30 by Israeli forces in international waters. One hundred and seventy-five activists were briefly detained, including two Canadians, including 22-year-old Quebec student Umir Tiar.
Contacted by Radio-Canada, the young woman remains determined to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory.
“Despite the persistent risks, we are very determined to move forward with the mission to deliver aid to Gaza,” she said in a message sent hours before the flotilla’s departure.
“Regardless of the strategies and tactics used to kill the pro-Palestinian movement, they will not succeed in killing our determination,” she added.
“We are ready!” exclaimed Safa Chebbi, spokesperson for the “Global Flotilla Soumoud,” on the other side. She ensures that the crew is prepared to face any eventuality.
“We are doing simulation exercises, we are prepared to respond peacefully to any interception or attack we may face,” stated Ehab Lotayef, a 67-year-old Montreal engineer who has participated in several flotillas since 2011.
“We expect to be attacked by Israeli forces every night,” Lotayef added.
The blockade of Gaza by Israel has been in place since June 2007, intensifying during the war triggered by Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, causing a mass famine in the Palestinian enclave, as reported by the UN.
Ko Timaung, a Rohingya activist from Toronto, is participating in this initiative for the first time. He sees many similarities between the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza and the persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar.
“For me, both causes are connected,” he told Radio-Canada.
The organizers of the flotilla denounce the international community’s inability to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza. They call on Canada to impose an embargo on the transfer of any military equipment to Israel.
“The international silence is simply unacceptable,” Lotayef declared. “The aid we transport by boat is symbolic, and we do not claim to solve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” he added.
“Canada maintains its position that coordinated humanitarian aid by the United Nations to and within Gaza must be immediately intensified to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation,” stated John Babcock from Global Affairs Canada.
Radio-Canada contacted the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa, but no statement was provided at the time of publication.
