A new activist-led aid flotilla plans to set sail from Barcelona towards Gaza today “to break the illegal siege”, according to its organisers. The Global Sumud Flotilla will be the “biggest attempt ever to break the illegal Israeli siege over Gaza”, said Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who is part of the flotilla’s steering committee and will be on board. In addition to the ships leaving Spain today, dozens of other vessels are expected to leave Tunisian and other Mediterranean ports on September 4, said Thunberg, who was previously arrested and deported from Israel after taking part in a Gaza aid flotilla mission. As well as Thunberg, the flotilla will include activists from several countries, European lawmakers, and public figures such as former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau. “We understand that this is a legal mission under international law,” said left-wing Portuguese lawmaker Mariana Mortagua, who will join the mission.
