Aid flotilla bound for besieged Gaza delays planned departure from Tunisia to Wednesday

ISTANBUL

A fleet of Gaza-bound boats postponed its scheduled departure to the blockaded Palestinian enclave from Sunday to Wednesday, organizers said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla cited technical and logistical reasons for the delayed departure of the aid ships to Gaza.

“The voyage was postponed for several reasons, including the delayed arrival of the flotilla from Spain, weather and sea conditions, in addition to logistical reasons related to the state of the ships,” reads a statement delivered by one of the organizers in a video posted on US social media company X.

The flotilla vessels will officially set sail from Tunisia on Sept. 10 from Sidi Bou Said Port in the capital Tunis, in coordination with the rest of participants, the statement said.

Nearly 20 ships departed Barcelona late last month as part of the flotilla, followed by another convoy from Genoa, Italy earlier this week. A third flotilla was scheduled to set sail from Tunisia on Sunday before continuing toward Gaza to break a choking Israeli siege on the territory.

The mission brings together the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Global Gaza Movement, the Sumud Convoy and Malaysia’s Nusantara Solidarity group.

On Aug. 22, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that famine had taken hold in northern Gaza and warned it could spread further as Israel’s blockade continues.

The Israeli genocidal war in Gaza entered day 700 on Friday, with Israel having killed at least 64,300 Palestinians. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.