Heading for Gaza VI: GSF entering the most risky stretch

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) is moving towards the decisive stage. In the midst of the Zionist offensive on Gaza, a devastating famine and enduring intimidation, it reaffirms its will to break the blockade on humanitarian aid.

By Ruben Tzanoff

Automatically translated by AI.

The resumption of navigation from Sicily took place in calm seas. On September 21, a significant event occurred: at high altitude, several drones began to follow the flotilla.

On September 22 the swell became stronger, although the weather did not impede progress and the ships entered the Greek maritime zone.

September 23 passed like a routine day: by then, the ships were on their way to pass the southern part of the island of Crete.

In the early morning hours of September 24, the alarms went off again, the presence of the drones was followed by detonations. They are still intimidating messages, but they are becoming more and more intense.

Decisive moments are approaching

Our comrade Cele Fierro, who travels on the “Adara” representing the MST-Argentina and the International Socialist League (ISL), sent us the following message:

“We have two or three days of entry into a risk zone because of possible Israeli retaliation and, if we get through that, there would be another three or four decisive days left to reach Gaza. That is as long as we don’t have to anchor again. For those of us who are not seafarers, it was difficult to accept that the trip would take so long. But there is no choice. The sea imposes its conditions on this type of vessel.

We are also focusing on the increased drone activity over the last three days. This morning’s incursions have escalated: they interfered with communications and there were several explosions that caused damage to some ships. That’s why we had to activate the security protocols. They want to scare us with stronger and stronger messages so that we do not continue to advance, but we continue”.

They want to prevent food from passing

Zionism wants to prevent aid from arriving, trying to impose the idea that the flotilla “violates the law”. In reality it complies with the most elementary human law: to help besieged and starving people. That is why the Israeli Foreign Ministry asked the ships to dock in Ashkelon – Israel’s southern coast – to transfer humanitarian aid.

It is a known modus operandi: they control the cargo, delay it and refuse its entry. The evidence is there for all to see. Israel claims to have lifted the total blockade in May, but since then it has only allowed an average of 70 trucks a day to enter, when UN agencies estimate that 500-600 are needed to cover basic needs.

The result of this criminal action is devastating: the UN confirmed that Gaza is suffering from stage 5 famine, with more than 500,000 people in extreme hunger, consuming calories well below survival level and with more than a third of the population going days without food. Acute malnutrition is hitting at least 320,000 children and starvation deaths have already been reported.

The only way to ensure that the food reaches its destination is to deliver it to the Palestinians in their own hands.

The main question mark of a difficult mission

Will it be possible to break the blockade? No one knows, it is a mission as valuable as it is difficult to achieve. Zionism stopped the previous flotilla, threatens the current one and launches intimidating messages that are increasing.

They will look for all sorts of excuses to then act against the “terrorists”, as they falsely label solidarity activists.

International maritime law recognizes the freedom of navigation in international waters and prohibits impeding the transit of humanitarian assistance to populations under siege (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS 1982, and principles of humanitarian law). However, the beasts ignore any convention that contradicts them and the international “law” of imperialist capitalism is applied with double standards.

When the goods of the great global trade sail through the Mediterranean, there is no problem. When ships loaded with weapons leave Europe for Israel, no problem either. Even Israeli settlers and extremists have offered boat trips to see the destruction of Gaza, and nothing happens. But when it comes to migrants in small boats, they are left to drown or deported; and when a peaceful flotilla carries food, they are harassed and the laws remain a “dead letter”.

A reality of two profiles

On one side is Netanyahu, executor and denier of genocide, backed by Trump and other ultra-right-wingers: the monstrous face of barbarism. On the other side are the workers, the peoples, the students, the artists and all the people around the world who protest and mobilize. The strike and the demonstrations, like those of September 22 in Italy for Palestine and against Meloni, are examples of militant solidarity.

As on the mainland, and as activists do from every GSF ship, we respond to the desperate worldwide appeal of the Palestinian people. From the LIS we call to multiply the mobilizations to stop the genocide, ethnic cleansing and occupation of Palestine. Let the governments break relations with Israel!

Effective protection of the fleet is necessary and possible

The Spanish government demanded respect for the right of navigation in the Mediterranean and announced the dispatch of a ship from Cartagena to “assist” the flotilla and carry out rescues if necessary. And even the ultra-right-wing Meloni authorized the deployment of a frigate to assist the affected vessels, following recent drone attacks that hit the flotilla.

This is not a humanitarian turn, nor a change in strategic support for Israel. The Spanish people are leading a sustained and massive popular expression for Palestine, which included the blockade of the Vuelta Ciclista, and Italian workers have just staged mobilizations and strikes that have impacted the whole world. This is what pressures some European governments to do something.

Let us demand that all EU governments guarantee free navigation in the Mediterranean, the safety of the flotilla and that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza! Let them investigate where the Zionist drones are coming from and stop the harassment!

The authorities of the countries of origin of the flotilla members and those of the EU are obliged to provide effective protection against possible boardings, attacks and imprisonment.