Activists Vow to Continue Gaza Aid Mission Despite Israeli Interceptions

(MENAFN) Activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla said they intend to press ahead with their humanitarian voyage toward Gaza even after Israeli naval forces intercepted multiple vessels in international waters, according to reports.

Irish activist Mikey Cullen, a poet and teacher from Dublin, said from one of the ships that participants remained determined to continue despite uncertainty about how long the mission could proceed.

“We could last another day, we could last another hour, we don't know yet, but we're going to keep going until they stop us,” he said in remarks reported from aboard the flotilla.

The convoy, which initially departed from Barcelona on April 12 and later expanded with additional ships across the Mediterranean, most recently sailed from the Turkish port of Marmaris on Thursday, forming a 54-vessel humanitarian mission aimed at reaching Gaza.

According to organizers, Israeli naval forces intercepted 16 vessels from the flotilla on Monday morning while they were sailing in international waters, roughly 250 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip.

Cullen described waking to reports that several lead vessels had already been boarded or stopped by Israeli forces.

He said that upon going on deck, he observed nearby military vessels, including what appeared to be an Israeli warship and another ship described as a detention vessel positioned several hundred meters away, as well as smaller fast-moving boats in the distance.

The activist added that several ships within the convoy changed course and moved south in an attempt to avoid interception while continuing the mission.

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