Gaza-Bound Flotilla Launch Deferred to Thursday
(MENAFN) The launch of the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza from Tunisia has been postponed until Thursday, an organizer confirmed.
Nabil Chennoufi, a steering committee member of the Maghreb branch of the flotilla, told media that “It was decided to postpone the departure of the Global Sumud Flotilla from Tunisia to Gaza to Thursday instead of today, Wednesday, due to bad weather and logistical reasons.”
He explained the decision to hold off until dawn Thursday for a final call on sailing: “We will wait until dawn tomorrow to then decide on the departure, taking into account weather conditions, and to give an opportunity to address some logistical shortcomings.”
Chennoufi dismissed any speculation that fears of attacks on the fleet influenced the delay. “There is no such reason. This morning, we had a security meeting with all the agencies, and they granted us authorization to depart and were even urging us to set sail.”
He emphasized that “the main reason for the delay is the change in weather conditions due to rain and wind.”
Regarding fleet size, Chennoufi said “around 36 ships are involved, two or three of which are not fully ready to sail, but they may join us later.” The number of participants ranges “between 500 and 700.”
He also confirmed that the flotilla’s numbers would grow after meeting Italian and Spanish vessels. Additionally, “Today, we were also informed that the Egyptian state allowed an Egyptian vessel to depart and granted it authorization.”
There was no immediate response from Egyptian officials concerning this statement.
The fleet was originally set to sail Wednesday from Sidi Bou Said port near Tunis, embarking on what organizers call the largest maritime mission to Gaza.
Earlier Wednesday, thousands of Tunisians gathered at Sidi Bou Said’s port and beach to rally behind the flotilla, demonstrating solidarity with the Palestinian cause and condemning what they described as Israel’s genocide and blockade of Gaza.
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