A Turkish activist aboard the "Madeleine" ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla coalition that set out to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip, confirmed their hope of entering Gaza tomorrow, Monday.
In a video call with Anadolu Agency, activist Hussein Shuaib said, "We are still advancing toward Gaza. We don't have much left. These are crucial hours for us. We will be in Gaza tomorrow, God willing, if we don't encounter any obstacles."
Shoaib stressed that their morale is good, adding, "We don't think much about what will happen to us. We still have hope of entering Gaza."
Regarding Israel's statements that it would arrest and deport the ship's passengers, he said: "We had great hope when we set out. We believed that real sanctions could be imposed (on Israel) and that we would be effective in delivering real humanitarian aid and lifting the siege (on Gaza). We are entering our last day, and I believe that they (Israel) will continue to act illegally."
Shoaib stressed that they are peaceful activists, are not skilled at fighting or carrying weapons, and do not pose any threat to anyone.
"Of course, they can still attack us, threaten us, use physical violence, they can try to kill us, but as you know, we've seen this before. Even the slightest reaction a person shows to defend themselves is considered terrorism to them," he added.
He continued: "We train ourselves not to show any defensive reaction even when they hit us. We do not intend to show any facial expression that would provide them with excuses or justifications."
Shoaib pointed out that the Israeli authorities did not contact them directly.
He added, "They don't contact us, but we receive news from their private media accounts, and we know they are following the process."
A few days ago, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that Israel had decided to prevent the Madeleine, a ship that had set sail from Italy in an attempt to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip, from approaching or docking off the coast of the Strip.
According to the authority, there was an initial move to allow the ship to reach Gaza as long as it did not pose a "security threat," but the decision was later changed "to prevent the creation of a precedent that could be repeated."
The ship is carrying 12 people, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham.
On May 2, the Al-Dumayr ship was attacked by a drone while attempting to break the blockade, causing a hole in its hull and a fire in its bow, according to sources in the coalition organizing the voyage.
Through a deliberate policy paving the way for forced displacement, Israel is starving 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza by closing the crossings to humanitarian aid, particularly food, since March 2, according to the government media office in the Strip.
With full American support, Israel has been committing genocidal crimes in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving more than 180,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, more than 11,000 missing, and hundreds of thousands displaced.
שתף את דעתך
Turkish activist on board the Madeleine: We cling to the hope of entering Gaza on Monday