Aid flotilla nears Gaza with 500 activists on board

RABAT, Morocco (MNTV) – A Gaza-bound flotilla carrying hundreds of activists said Thursday it is less than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the Palestinian enclave, pressing ahead with its mission to defy Israel’s blockade.

“Our ships are now only 995 kilometers (618 miles) from Gaza. Our hearts have already reached before us. We sail with determination to end the siege,” organizers from the Maghreb branch said in a statement on Facebook.

The update followed reports of 12 explosions across nine vessels after drone harassment in international waters on Wednesday.

While the flotilla stopped short of naming those responsible, Israel has previously warned it would not allow the ships to reach Gaza but has not commented on the latest incident.

Abdelhaq Benqadi, a representative of the Arab Lawyers Union traveling with the convoy, said the mission’s legal team is preparing to file a case at the International Criminal Court, accusing Israel of “war crimes at sea.”

Israel has repeatedly intercepted similar aid missions, often seizing vessels and deporting activists — actions widely criticized as violations of international law.

This convoy, however, is the largest of its kind in nearly two decades, comprising nearly 50 boats loaded with humanitarian supplies, including medical aid, and more than 500 activists from across the globe.

The effort comes as Gaza’s 2.4 million people continue to endure an 18-year Israeli blockade, with UN investigators recently concluding that Israel is committing genocide in the territory. More than 65,400 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.