RABAT, Morocco / ISTANBUL

A Moroccan activist participating in an international aid flotilla bound for Gaza is determined to reach the blockaded enclave despite Israeli threats and potential attacks.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said that the convoy is expected to reach Gaza within three to four days and will enter a “high‑risk zone” within two days.

Israel’s official broadcaster KAN reported that Israeli authorities are preparing to “take control” of the flotilla’s ships – a move reminiscent of past incidents involving the vessels Madleen and Hanzala, which Israel intercepted in June and July.

High Morale

Ayoub Habraoui, representing Morocco in the Maghreb fleet of the flotilla, said the convoy consists of 48 ships and more than 600 participants from 44 countries.

He emphasized that participants are “eagerly awaiting arrival in Gaza to break the Israeli blockade” and are physically and psychologically prepared for any threats.

“We are one family, and we will reach Gaza’s territorial waters tomorrow night,” he told Anadolu in an interview.

Despite the journey’s challenges, including rough seas, Habraoui said participant morale remains “high, and excitement is strong.”

Before departure, Habraoui said the group held daily sessions in Tunisia for a week to train for all potential scenarios, including drone strikes, possible raids, interactions with soldiers, exposure to gunfire, or attacks on participants and ships.

He recalled emotional moments during the flotilla’s send‑off: “Participants experienced historic human moments, particularly during departure. Large delegations attended the farewell at Sidi Bou Said port in Tunisia, which had a strong psychological impact on the participants.”

He described human stories, including participants who sold their cars, quit their jobs, or left children behind to join the humanitarian mission.

“The most dangerous moment was the attack with sound and smoke grenades, when tens of bombs struck the ships. The decision was to continue at dawn, departing toward Gaza in a coordinated and organized manner, maintaining high morale despite fear and fatigue.”

Last week, the flotilla reported that nine of its ships were attacked by drone strikes, causing material damage to several vessels. The flotilla did not disclose the timing or the party behind, while Israel, which has repeatedly threatened to block the convoy, remained silent.

‘One family’

Habraoui said some ship malfunctions were normal due to storms, but acknowledged other unexplained issues, including a punctured fuel tank. He said he preferred not to elaborate, while also noting possible risks during port stops and refueling.

He described the daily routine onboard, with participants assigned to cooking, cleaning, night watch, monitoring, and inter-ship communications.

Regarding his ship, Deir Yassin, he said operations are going smoothly. “We function like a single family – those on breakfast duty fulfill their role, night-watch personnel do theirs, and everything proceeds normally. Even sleep is scheduled due to limited space, with groups rotating every six hours.”

On the flotilla’s final phase, Habraoui said the mission is heading directly to Gaza, with the stopover planned there unless blocked by Israeli forces.

Last Friday, the Maghreb branch of the convoy reported that unidentified military aircraft flew over its ships for the second time in a week while in Greek waters.

For days, dozens of vessels carrying humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, have sailed toward Gaza to break the illegal Israeli blockade. This is the first coordinated journey of this scale toward Gaza, home to roughly 2.4 million Palestinians, which has been under Israeli siege for about 18 years.

Since March 2, Israel has tightened the blockade by closing all crossings into Gaza, preventing the entry of food, medicine, or humanitarian aid, pushing the enclave toward famine despite aid trucks accumulating at the border.

Limited aid is occasionally allowed, but it is insufficient to meet basic needs, and many aid trucks, according to Gaza authorities, are looted en route by gangs allegedly protected by Israel.

The Israeli army has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable and led to starvation and the spread of diseases.