Organizers of an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian international flotilla aiming to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza announced plans Thursday for a new mission to the Strip with more than 100 boats in March.

The announcement was made at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa, and speakers included Mandla Mandela, grandson of the late former South African president. They called on the international community to prevent Israeli forces from intercepting the operation, as they have in the past.

The anti-Israel campaigners, who last year organized a similar flotilla carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, described the upcoming mission as the biggest civilian-led mobilization against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Israeli officials repeatedly denounced last year’s mission, and previous smaller-scale attempts to reach Gaza by sea, as publicity stunts.

Mandela was part of the flotilla that embarked on a mission to Gaza last year and was detained along with other activists when their boat was intercepted by Israeli forces before they could reach Gaza shores.

According to organizers, more than 1,000 activists, including medical doctors, war crimes investigators and engineers, will form part of the new........

© The Times of Israel