Gaza Aid Flotilla Seeks to Challenge Israeli Blockade
A second flotilla of activists carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza reportedly set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona on Sunday, aiming to challenge the Israeli blockade.
The convoy is said to include around 30 boats loaded with medical supplies and other aid, with additional vessels expected to join en route.
The Israeli military previously stopped about 40 boats organised by the same group last October as they attempted to reach Gaza. It also detained Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 other participants at the time.
Israel maintains that it controls access to the Gaza Strip and has denied restricting supplies for its more than 2 million residents. However, Palestinians and international humanitarian organisations say the aid reaching the territory remains insufficient. These claims could not be independently verified.
Access to Gaza is subject to restrictions imposed by Israel and Egypt, although the extent and practical impact of these controls are disputed by the parties involved.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that even during armed conflict, states are obliged under international humanitarian law to ensure safe access to health care.
Aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip are currently routed almost exclusively through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing, which serves as the main inspection and transfer point. The Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border is partially open but operates under restrictions and is used primarily for the movement of people, with humanitarian supplies typically redirected for Israeli inspection. The Erez crossing does not play a role in aid deliveries. Overall, access for humanitarian assistance remains tightly controlled and subject to political conditions.