ISTANBUL

A global fleet of Gaza-bound boats said Wednesday that its departure from Tunisia has been postponed from Sept. 4 to 7.

In a statement, organizers said the delay of the Maghreb Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla was necessary due to a one-day setback in its earlier launch from Barcelona, which forced rescheduling at various points of the journey, as well as unfavorable weather conditions.

The group expressed regret to supporters and participants but said the adjustment would allow for better coordination of the event.

It thanked donors for their contributions to the ongoing fundraising campaign, which it said reflected broad popular support for the Palestinian cause and efforts to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza.

The flotilla is part of the larger Global Sumud Flotilla that set sail from Barcelona earlier this week with around 200 activists, politicians, and artists from 44 countries.

Additional ships from Italy and Tunisia are expected to join, bringing the total to more than 500 people and about 60 vessels carrying food and medical supplies.

Organizers urged the public to follow the flotilla’s official pages for updates on the exact time and place of departure from Tunisia.

In recent months, Israel has intercepted multiple Gaza-bound aid ships in international waters.

On July 26, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Handala aid ship as it neared Gaza’s shores and escorted it to Ashdod Port. The vessel had reached about 70 nautical miles from Gaza, surpassing the distance covered by the Madleen, which made it 110 miles before being stopped.

Since March 2, Israeli authorities have completely closed all Gaza border crossings, pushing the territory’s 2.4 million population into famine.

A UN-backed food security assessment has already confirmed famine in northern Gaza and expects it to spread further south by the end of September.

Israel has killed more than 63,700 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. 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.