Foreign ministers from 16 countries have urged Israel to comply with international law and avoid any violent or unlawful action against the Sumud flotilla, which is carrying aid to Gaza in an effort to break the blockade.
The statement, released Tuesday, was signed by the foreign ministers of Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, and Turkey.
In a joint statement, the ministers expressed serious concern for the safety of the flotilla, which includes citizens from their nations. They emphasized that international humanitarian law must be upheld and warned that violations of participants’ rights—including assaults on ships in international waters or arbitrary detention—“will lead to accountability.”
By Tuesday morning, 9 boats from the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla sailed toward Gaza to connect with the larger international convoy in international waters. Since Saturday, vessels have left from the Tunisian ports of Sidi Bou Said, Gammarth, and Bizerte after clearing customs. This raised the Maghreb fleet’s total to 23 out of more than 40 ships gathered in Tunisia, most of them Tunisian, according to Al Jazeera.
In a statement posted Sunday on Instagram, flotilla organizers said they had reduced passenger numbers on some vessels departing from Italy, Tunisia, and Greece in anticipation of “increasingly hostile conditions.”
The statement noted weeks of difficulties, including two drone attacks on ships in Tunisia, as well as fuel shortages and equipment delays that disrupted departure schedules.
Earlier this month, Israel’s Ben-Gvir threatened to stop the flotilla of 44 countries’ activists by arresting all participants. Flotilla organizers said these public threats pushed them to strengthen security measures, shift some ships to alternative ports, carry out sea drills, and reinforce safety protocols.
The Global Sumud Flotilla first left Barcelona with over 300 activists, later adding ships in Tunisia. Its mission is to deliver aid and break Israel’s blockade.
