US congresswoman demands protection for Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla
US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib on Monday called on the Trump administration to ensure safe passage for the Global Sumud
ISTANBUL, Türkiye (MNTV) – US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib on Monday called on the Trump administration to ensure safe passage for the Global Sumud humanitarian flotilla heading to Gaza.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla is sailing to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians who are being starved to death by the Israeli government. They must be fully protected,” Tlaib posted on X, sharing a letter she sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“I’m leading a letter to the Trump administration demanding safe passage and calling for an end to the blockade and genocide,” she added.
The letter, signed by more than a dozen members of Congress, urged Washington to deter any hostile actions against the ships and to ensure their mission succeeds.
“Above all else, we urge you to address the issue at root of this voyage: the brutal Israeli blockade and genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza,” it said.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest of its kind to date, consists of dozens of ships carrying humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies. Organizers say it represents a non-violent effort to break the blockade and deliver relief to the besieged enclave.
“Sumud,” meaning steadfastness in Arabic, became a defining concept of Palestinian resistance after the 1967 Arab–Israeli war, symbolizing resilience through civil disobedience, cultural survival, and remaining on the land. In Palestine, it is often represented by the olive tree and the pregnant peasant.
Israel’s assault on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, leaving the enclave uninhabitable and pushing its population toward starvation and disease.
In a landmark ruling last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
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