Organisers of the flotilla aiming to break the Gaza siege have cited rough seas for a delayed departure, with 36 vessels and hundreds of activists now preparing to set sail on Friday or Saturday.
According to Anadolu reporters, several ships taking part in the convoy left from Sidi Bou Said Port, north of the Tunisian capital. Activists also shared images on social media showing some vessels arriving in Bizerte, around 60 kilometres from Tunis.
Steering committee member Mohamed Amin Bennour told the official Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency that the decision to reroute was taken because conditions were unsafe for small and mid-sized boats to sail directly from Sidi Bou Said.
“We are moving to Bizerte to finalise preparations before heading toward Gaza on Friday,” he said.
Another organiser, Nabil Chennoufi, said that the delay was due solely to weather conditions, not security concerns, stressing that Tunisian authorities had already granted clearance for the convoy.
The flotilla consists of around 36 vessels carrying between 500 and 700 activists from over 40 countries.
Additional boats from Italy and Spain are expected to join en route, while organisers said an Egyptian vessel has also been cleared to participate.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
On Wednesday, thousands of Tunisians gathered at Sidi Bou Said to show support, waving Palestinian and Tunisian flags and chanting against Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
Drone strikes
Activists behind the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) said one of its main vessels, the Family Boat, was attacked by an Israeli drone off the coast of Tunisia, though local authorities have dismissed the claim despite video evidence.
A GSF spokesman blamed Israel for the incident, which occurred late on Monday night. Footage from another boat appears to show a projectile landing on the Family Boat’s deck, followed by a flash of light and a loud explosion.
In a statement released on the GSF Instagram page, activists vowed to continue despite efforts to derail their mission.
“Acts of aggression aimed at intimidating and derailing our mission will not deter us. Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve.”
This convoy is the largest of its kind to date, as previous attempts involved single ships that Israel intercepted at sea.
Organisers say their aim is to challenge the blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, where famine conditions have taken hold under Israel’s months-long closure of all crossings.
The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed on 22 August that famine had gripped northern Gaza and warned it could spread further as the blockade continues.
Israel’s army has maintained a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, killing more than 64,700 Palestinians since October 2023.
The campaign has devastated the enclave, which is now facing famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Italian convoy
Speaking earlier Thursday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that he had called his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar and told him they will provide diplomatic and consular assistance to the 58 Italian citizens joining the Flotilla.
The boats that set sail from Italy are expected to meet with boats coming from Spain and Tunisia in the Mediterranean before proceeding to Gaza.
Some proceeded early Thursday from Sidi Bou Said to Bizerte, both in Tunisia, in preparation for the aid convoy’s planned Friday departure to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory.
After previous attempts to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza failed, this new initiative aims to generate enough attention to push for international and diplomatic solutions.
