Nine ships of ‘Thousand Madleens Flotilla’ advance toward Gaza defying Israeli raids
Vessels reach Egypt’s northern coast as activists vow to defy Israel’s blockade, press on with flotilla missions, and mobilize global solidarity
ANKARA, Turkiye (MNTV) — The international group Global Sumud Flotilla announced that nine vessels from the “Thousand Madleens Flotilla” have reached the northern coast of Marsa Matruh, Egypt, and are continuing their course toward the Gaza Strip in an effort to defy Israel’s naval blockade.
In a statement posted on X, the group said the movement would not halt, declaring: “The cumulative global movement must continue… every port, every street, every square.” It added, “We will not stop,” stressing that the ships are pressing on toward Gaza.
The development follows Thursday’s announcement by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which confirmed that 11 additional vessels were sailing from the Mediterranean toward Gaza with around 100 activists aboard, positioned near the coast of Crete, Greece.
Formed in 2008, the coalition has organized numerous maritime missions to deliver humanitarian aid and draw global attention to the crisis in the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli blockade for nearly 18 years.
The latest convoy comes just two days after Israeli naval forces intercepted and seized over 40 Gaza-bound boats, detaining more than 450 activists and preventing the vessels from reaching their destination.
Israel has a history of illegally raiding flotillas, confiscating their cargo, and deporting international participants.
The blockade, imposed on the 2.4 million residents of Gaza, was further tightened earlier this year, with Israel shutting border crossings and restricting the entry of food and medicine.
Aid agencies warn that these measures have generated intense famine and deepened the humanitarian crisis created by Israel.
Since October 2023, Israeli airstrikes and military operations have killed more than 66,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local as well international health authorities.
The United Nations and human rights organizations have repeatedly cautioned that the Gaza Strip is becoming uninhabitable as starvation, disease, and destruction spread due to Israel’s bombardment and aid blockade.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
