Huge crowds gathered at Tunisia's port on Sunday to welcome Greta Thunberg as her aid flotilla, bound for Gaza, docked at the port. The Swedish climate activist is travelling with 350 pro-Palestinian activists on boats stocked with aid that they are hoping to deliver to Palestinians in Gaza. Pictures from the Sidi Bou Said port show hordes of people surrounding the 22-year-old as she addressed the crowd. We all know why we are here, she said. Just across the water there's a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel's murder machine.
Israel has repeatedly denied that there is starvation in Gaza and has blamed any hunger on Hamas and aid agency failures. Last month, a UN-backed body confirmed that there was famine in the territory, and the UN's humanitarian chief stated that it was the direct result of Israel's systematic obstruction of aid entering Gaza. French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan was at the port and emphasized, The Palestinian cause is not in the hands of governments today. It is in the hearts of peoples everywhere.
Flotilla organizers aim to "break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza." However, the mission has faced challenges; a previous attempt was intercepted by Israeli forces. This latest attempt commenced from Barcelona with around 20 vessels, set to pause in Tunisia for two days before making its way to Gaza. Activists confirmed that the flotilla will be expanded and loaded with additional aid in Tunisia. Israeli authorities have previously dismissed Thunberg's efforts as mere publicity stunts.
Faced with growing international pressure, Israel had recently allowed a limited amount of aid back into Gaza following a nearly three-month total blockade, claiming that some supplies were being taken by Hamas.
Israel has repeatedly denied that there is starvation in Gaza and has blamed any hunger on Hamas and aid agency failures. Last month, a UN-backed body confirmed that there was famine in the territory, and the UN's humanitarian chief stated that it was the direct result of Israel's systematic obstruction of aid entering Gaza. French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan was at the port and emphasized, The Palestinian cause is not in the hands of governments today. It is in the hearts of peoples everywhere.
Flotilla organizers aim to "break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza." However, the mission has faced challenges; a previous attempt was intercepted by Israeli forces. This latest attempt commenced from Barcelona with around 20 vessels, set to pause in Tunisia for two days before making its way to Gaza. Activists confirmed that the flotilla will be expanded and loaded with additional aid in Tunisia. Israeli authorities have previously dismissed Thunberg's efforts as mere publicity stunts.
Faced with growing international pressure, Israel had recently allowed a limited amount of aid back into Gaza following a nearly three-month total blockade, claiming that some supplies were being taken by Hamas.
