Gaza rallies in solidarity with the “Steadfastness Flotilla” and
denouncing the Israeli occupation’s attack at sea

Dozens
of Palestinians took part, on Wednesday, in the Gaza Strip, in a solidarity
stand in support of the “Global Steadfastness Flotilla” and in condemnation of
the Israeli occupation’s attack against it in international waters while it was
attempting to reach the territory.

Participants
in the rally, organized by local elders and community leaders at Gaza City’s
port, raised banners reading: “Welcome to the Steadfastness Flotilla” and “Our
children’s eyes sail with you,” alongside Palestinian and Turkish flags.

A maritime message to break the blockade

On April
26, the “Spring Mission 2026” affiliated with the “Global Steadfastness
Flotilla” set sail from the Italian island of Sicily, aiming to break the
blockade imposed on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, after completing its
final preparations.

However,
the Israeli occupation army launched an attack on April 29 in international
waters off the Greek island of Crete, targeting boats carrying activists.

According
to flotilla officials, the vessels included 345 participants from 39 countries,
including Turkish citizens. The Israeli occupation forces detained 21 boats
carrying around 175 activists, while the remaining vessels continued sailing
toward Greek territorial waters.

This
marks the second initiative of the “Global Steadfastness Flotilla,” following
the September 2025 attempt, which ended after an Israeli attack on the ships in
October of the same year while they were sailing in international waters,
leading to the arrest of hundreds of international activists before the start
of their deportation.

Taysir
Muhaysen, advisor to the Government Media Office, said the event was held in
appreciation of the activists’ initiative who sailed toward Gaza “in support of
humanity and to break the blockade imposed on the Strip.”

He added
that they “endured great hardships in order to deliver their humanitarian
message to Gaza, which is facing a war of extermination,” considering that
targeting them at sea “reveals the Israeli occupation’s violation of
international and maritime laws.”

Muhaysen
also conveyed a message of thanks to Türkiye, its people, government, and civil
society organizations, stressing that it “has been a key supporter of the
Palestinian people throughout the war, on both the humanitarian and political
levels.”

For his
part, Ala Adib Al-Aklouk, head of the National Gathering of Palestinian Tribes
and Clans, said Palestinians welcome the “Flotilla of Challenge and
Steadfastness” and appreciate the efforts of its participants.

He added
that the flotilla “carries a humanitarian message at a time when the world is
witnessing a decline in human values,” praising Turkish support for the
initiative.

Al-Aklouk
called on the international community to work toward opening a maritime
corridor to bring food and medicine into the Gaza Strip, in light of the
difficult humanitarian conditions experienced by the population.

Since
2007, the Israeli occupation has imposed a blockade on Gaza, and about 1.5
million Palestinians out of approximately 2.4 million have become homeless
after their homes were destroyed during a war that began on October 8, 2023.

The war
has left more than 72,000 martyrs and 172,000 wounded, most of them women and
children, in addition to widespread destruction affecting 90% of
infrastructure, with a UN estimate placing reconstruction costs at around $70
billion.

Despite
the ceasefire agreement in force since October 10, Israeli forces, according to
available data, continue their operations through blockade and repeated
shelling, resulting in hundreds of casualties, along with preventing sufficient
entry of food, medicine, medical supplies, and shelter materials.

(Source:
Anadolu Agency)

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* للاطلاع على الترجمة الكاملة للخبر باللغة
العربية، اضغط (هنا).

تضامنًا مع #أسطول_الصمود_الدولي وتنديدًا بالاعتداءات عليه.. رابطة جرحى فلسطين تنظم وقفة احتجاجية على شاطئ بحر مدينة غزة، تأكيدًا على دعمها للناشطين ورسالة الحرية#فيديو pic.twitter.com/nJusqPII4H

— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) May 5, 2026