Why it matters:
The international humanitarian missions attempting to reach Gaza remain under a strict naval blockade. Targeting a civilian aid ship restricts reaching aid to Gaza, while the population is facing severe food insecurity and mass casualties.
The Big Picture:
The "Global Conscience Convoy" is an international civilian initiative backed by delegations from 44 countries. Its goal is to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea through non-military vessels. The ship targeted was flying the Portuguese flag and carrying members of the convoy’s steering committee.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations since the war began. A global food security monitor has reported famine across the Gaza Strip.
Key Points:
- The convoy stated that the drone strike caused a fire on the ship’s main deck and below-deck storage area.
- Eyewitnesses reported that dozens of people gathered outside the port of Sidi Bou Said, where the convoy’s ships were docked, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.”
Go deeper:
Pakistanis Rally to Support Gaza-Bound Flotilla, Condemn Israeli Blockade
- Neda Sajjadi
