A flotilla bound for Gaza carrying symbolic aid and pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activists set sail Monday from Tunisia after repeated delays, aiming to break Israel’s blockade. They will be joined by two ships that set sail Sunday evening from the Greek island of Syros to join the effort.

The two ships are set to join dozens of others that are sailing from Tunisia, Spain and Italy and are expected to arrive in Israeli waters in the coming days. The group of ships, called the Global Sumud Flotilla, is the largest yet seeking to defy Israel’s blockade and has the stated mission of bringing aid to Gaza.

It is also carrying a number of pro-Palestinian activists, including Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, and is seen as a challenge to Israel in the court of public opinion. Israel stopped a single boat carrying aid and a group of activists, including Thunberg, in June.

“We are also trying to send a message to the people of Gaza that the world has not forgotten about you,” Thunberg said before boarding in the northern Tunisian port of Bizerte. “When our governments are failing to step up then we have no choice but to take matters into our own hands.”

This attempt is much more extensive but has been beset by difficulties. First, inclement weather forced the boats back to port in Barcelona. Then, last week, the flotilla said it was hit by two suspected drone attacks in 24 hours. Tunisia called the reported attacks “premeditated aggression.”

On Monday, the flotilla set sail from........

© The Times of Israel