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It will also be equipped with 18 boats and four MEPs, which will assist from Sicily towards Gaza on Saturday under the “Global Smooth Fleet” banner.
They will be taking part in Greek and Tunisian boats. Some of them left Barcelona at the end of August and then headed to the Gaza Strip.
A total of 34 boats were added to the mission, with about 600 people responsible for about 500 tons of humanitarian assistance, according to a Flotilla spokesman.
The goal is to provide assistance to the Palestinians in their biggest attempt to break Israeli lockdown in Gaza. However, this could prove to be extremely complicated as Israeli authorities have full control of the water from Gaza coasts and strips.
A similar measure taken on a single boat last June ended with the ship being intercepted by Israeli authorities and detained in Israel for “illegal entry” before its crew was deported.
Activists were designated as terrorists, imprisoned, denied special privileges such as television, radio and food choices, and Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben Gwil spoke to the press in early September to promote a plan aimed at stopping the fleet.
It is said that in the days before departure, two fleets of vessels targeted drone attacks under unclear circumstances. It was allegedly that both attacks took place in Tunisian waters.
The ones riding on the MEPS include Italians Analisa Collado (Socialists and Democrats) and Benedettassdeli (Green/EFA), France’s Emmaphoreau (left) and Ireland’s Limboylan (left) (Parliamentary mandate on relations with Palestine). She is on a legitimate surveillance vessel accompanied by the fleet to record violations of human rights or international law.
Benedetta Scuderi and Annalisa Corrado told Euronows that despite their fear, this would not stop them.
“I think it’s normal to fear facing the Israeli government that doesn’t set limits on destructive behavior. They say they want to do it against international law and treat us as terrorists.
“Of course, I’m scared. But this is a worthwhile mission to make yourself available, even if the outcome is heavy or difficult to manage. I can’t even imagine the fear of fear when Palestinian children feel under a bomb or get their hands and feet amputated without anesthesia.”
Both MEPS want to raise international pressure on Israel and encourage the European Union to act more boldly. “The association’s agreement with Israel should be suspended, the Palestinian state should be recognized, and humanitarian aid should have full access (to the Gaza Strip),” Korado said.
Scuderi asked the EU to “break the trade and military contracts with Israel” and to sanction the Israeli government. She saw Ursula von Leyen’s pledge to sanction the militant pastor and violent settlers as “inadequate,” but hoped it would bring about concrete action.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alvarez said Spanish citizens on board the ship would enjoy consuls and diplomatic protection.
A similar statement was made by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during Parliamentary debate in Rome. “Our embassy in Tel Aviv has been revitalized and has raised awareness with Israeli authorities about respecting the rights of all Italian citizens on the fleet,” he said. Two Italian lawmakers are also on the fleet.
