Farida Amrani, deputy from Essonne and secretary of the French National Assembly, announced on September 24, from Catania, Sicily, that she is joining what she described as the largest humanitarian flotilla in history to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip. A French-Moroccan lawmaker from La France Insoumise (LFI), born in Ajdir, Morocco, she made her decision public in an open letter to President Emmanuel Macron. In a press release received by Yabiladi, Amrani, also vice-president of the France-Morocco Friendship Group in the Assembly, explained that the two humanitarian flotillas heading to Gaza, Thousand Madleens and Sumud, bring together «more than 50 ships, hundreds of participants from 45 nationalities, including many French citizens and Moroccans from across the world». The mission's main objectives, she underlined, are to «deliver urgent humanitarian aid; symbolically and politically break the blockade imposed on Gaza; pressure states to establish a humanitarian corridor; and mobilize international opinion on the ongoing genocide». In her open letter to Macron, Amrani recalled that «the UN Human Rights Council's commission of inquiry has clearly indicated that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza». She continued: «More than 64,000 dead, an underestimated toll, tens of thousands of children killed, hospitals and schools destroyed, healthcare workers targeted, and a starving, displaced population testify to the magnitude of the crime. Even Herzi Halevi, former Israeli Chief of Staff, publicly admitted that over 10% of Gaza's inhabitants have been killed or injured, illustrating an unprecedented level of destruction. This represents nearly 200,000 civilians». Amrani's initiative comes at a moment when Paris has promised to recognize the State of Palestine. Against this backdrop, the deputy reproached Emmanuel Macron for condemning Israel's actions «half-heartedly» while continuing to «authorize contracts, deliver weapons, shake hands, and accommodate the genocidal Israeli government». She reminded him: «You know that what is happening in Gaza is not a 'distant tragedy,' but a crime documented by the UN, Palestinian journalists, and NGOs». Stressing the «strictly peaceful» and legal nature of the flotilla, meant to «uphold humanitarian law and protect civilians», Amrani urged Macron to «grant diplomatic protection to all French nationals, as Spain and Belgium have done». She added that the president «must break away from this complacent position with the Israeli far-right».
