Vacation has Ended: Gaza-Bound Flotilla Departs from Tunisia After Delays 

A flotilla carrying pro-Palestinian activists has set sail from Tunisia after repeated delays, with participants aiming to challenge Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. The convoy, consisting of around 20 boats that initially sailed from Barcelona, departed from the northern port of Bizerte.

Among those on board are prominent figures such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and European Parliament member Rima Hassan. The vessels are carrying what activists describe as symbolic packages of humanitarian aid.

Activist Goals and Prior Delays

Before boarding, Thunberg stated that the flotilla was an attempt to send a message to the people of Gaza

"that the world has not forgotten about you." She told AFP that with governments "failing to step up," activists felt they had "no choice but to take matters into our own hands."

According to a journalist with AFP, the flotilla's departure had been repeatedly postponed due to a combination of security concerns, weather conditions, and delays in preparing some of the boats. Photos of the vessels departing in the early hours of the morning were also posted on social media by activist Yasemin Acar, with captions calling for the end of the Gaza blockade.

Security Fears and Precautions

Activists have raised concerns about security during their journey. The flotilla's stop in Sidi Bou Said was marked by an incident where two vessels reportedly caught fire, which activists have claimed was caused by a drone attack.

European Parliament member Rima Hassan acknowledged these fears, stating that activists were "preparing for different scenarios.

"To mitigate risks, she said, prominent figures like herself and Thunberg were split between the two largest coordinating boats to "balance things out and avoid concentrating all the visible personalities on a single vessel."