Global Sumud Flotilla to Resume Voyage to Gaza from Turkey

A steering committee member who had been detained last Thursday and deported on Sunday said that a flotilla of 54 vessels and over 500 activists would be embarking from Marmaris. The individual had been held for questioning over affiliation with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad while the other steering committee member had been suspected of illegal activity.

Both individuals were released from a detention facility in Ashkelon on Sunday. One was deported to Sao Paulo and participated in the Wednesday press conference by video call. The pair were among 175 activists on the 20 vessels intercepted near Crete on April 29, with nearly all passengers then deposited onto Greek shores with the coordination of Greek authorities.

April 26, 56 vessels had embarked from Italy on a voyage to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The declared mission was raising awareness and mobilizing further activism against the blockade. The flotilla had absorbed a contingent of 25 vessels in Italy after an original group of 39 ships left Spain on April 15.

The flotilla had originally been set to depart from Barcelona on April 12 but was delayed by stormy weather. Activists released after detention said the group had launched an international media campaign following the interception, which it described as an act of piracy.

The Foreign Ministry stated that the flotilla was a propaganda stunt and that the ships carried no humanitarian aid. Israel maintains the blockade around Gaza to prevent the smuggling of arms and munitions and the movement of terrorist organizations.

" The vessels are scheduled to leave from Marmaris, Turkey.