A group of Moroccan activists is preparing to join the largest international flotilla bound for Gaza, part of a humanitarian initiative aimed at breaking the territory's suffocating blockade. The move comes as UN warnings intensify over an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe facing Palestinians amid what they describe as a war of extermination waged by the Israeli army. Several Moroccans are taking part in a fleet of ships preparing to sail to Gaza, aiming to open a humanitarian corridor and help end what they describe as the ongoing extermination of the Palestinian people. The fleet brings together dozens of boats and hundreds of participants from 44 countries, under the banner of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Global Gaza Movement, the Resilience Convoy, and the Malaysian Nusantara Resilience Organization. Aziz Ghali, former president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, told Yabiladi from Tunisia, where he is preparing to join the flotilla, that the departure is scheduled for Wednesday. «The delay from September 4 to September 10 was due to waiting for the ships that left Barcelona for Tunisia, so that we could set sail together», he explained. According to Ghali, the Barcelona ships arrived yesterday and were greeted by large crowds. «There are five ships with minor issues that will take about 24 hours to repair», he said, adding that loading of the aid collected in Tunisia has already begun. «The support was remarkable; Tunisians donated generously, which reminded me of the solidarity we saw after the Al-Haouz earthquake». Largest flotilla to date The fleet includes 23 ships from Barcelona, three from Algeria, five or six from Italy, and three from Libya. In Tunisia alone, between 25 and 30 vessels are preparing to depart. «Yesterday, the Egyptians contacted us and said they would join in international waters. Altogether, the flotilla will consist of between 65 and 70 medium and large ships», Ghali confirmed. He emphasized that Tunisian authorities had facilitated the mission, calling it «the largest fleet of its kind internationally, an unprecedented initiative. In contrast to previous years, when only a couple of boats took part, this flotilla includes dozens of vessels and nearly 800 participants». As for Moroccan participation, Ghali noted that «there are three main groups: the first within the Maghreb Resilience Fleet, the second in the Global Gaza Movement Fleet, and the third accompanying the ships from Barcelona. Despite our political differences, the Palestinian cause unites us all». Israeli threats Asked about potential risks, he said: «We have not speculated on how the Zionist entity will respond. All possibilities exist. What is certain is that we will head to Gaza. If they intercept us, we will respond as previous boats did. We are not violating any law. From Tunisia, we will head into international waters, and from there into Gaza's waters, which have never been under the control of the Zionist entity. Any intervention would therefore violate international and humanitarian law». So far, the only explicit threat has come from Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who declared that all ships would be seized, handed over to the Israeli army, and that participants would be considered «terrorists». This initiative follows two failed attempts in June and July, when Israel blocked ships trying to deliver aid by sea to Gaza, which remains under blockade and devastated by war that has already claimed thousands of lives. Among the participants in the new flotilla are Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, Spanish actor Eduard Fernández, and former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, alongside European parliamentarians and other public figures. On August 22, the United Nations declared that Gaza is facing famine, warning that more than 500,000 people are living in "catastrophic" conditions.
