Dozens of vessels set sail from southwestern Turkey on Thursday as part of a new aid flotilla bound for Gaza, an organizer told Agence France-Presse.
“Around 50 ships sailed from Marmaris around an hour ago,” said Görkem Duru, a member of the Turkey branch of the Global Sumud Fleet.
“They will be joined by four or five ships from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in international waters. Now they are sailing for Gaza,” he added.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is the third initiative in a year aimed at challenging Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where Palestinians have faced severe shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel during Israel’s military assault on the enclave since October 2023.
Israeli forces intercepted the second flotilla in international waters off Greece on April 30, deporting most of the activists to Europe and arresting two others who were held for 10 days.
Rights groups said the arrests were illegal and that the men suffered abuse in Israeli detention.
© Agence France-Presse