This came during a press conference held by the Turkish delegation of the Global Steadfastness Fleet on Wednesday at the headquarters of the "Nation Movement" Association in the capital, Ankara.
The delegation's spokesman, Hussein Durmaz, said the primary goal of launching the flotilla was to "reach Gaza by sea, provide humanitarian aid, return the Palestinian cause to the forefront of international attention, and expose the crimes committed in the Strip."
Durmaz noted that the Turkish delegation is actively participating in the ongoing preparations and is seeking to attract volunteers and activists from various segments of Turkish society to join this humanitarian mission.
He emphasized that this initiative goes beyond local efforts and enjoys the support and solidarity of activists in more than 40 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Arab world.
He explained that "the fleet will carry urgent relief aid, including food parcels, baby food, medical supplies, and basic humanitarian needs, as part of a peaceful and non-violent mission."
The Global Steadfastness Flotilla announced last Monday that its first mission would depart late August for the Gaza coast, in a renewed attempt to break the blockade that has caused a stifling famine crisis among the Strip's population.
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Last Monday, the Global Steadfastness Flotilla announced that its first mission would depart late August toward the coast of the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade that has caused unprecedented famine among Palestinians.
On July 26, Israeli naval forces stormed the "Handala" ship, which was carrying international activists on its way to Gaza. They seized the ship and took it to the port of Ashdod.
The Hanthala had reached 70 miles from Gaza when it was intercepted by the Israeli occupation forces. This exceeded the distances traveled by previous ships, such as the Mavi Marmara, which was 72 miles away before being intercepted by Israel in 2010, the Madeleine, which reached 110 miles, and the Damir, which was 1,050 miles away, according to the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, starving Palestinians. On March 2, it tightened its measures by closing the crossings to humanitarian, relief, and medical aid, causing a famine to spread to "catastrophic" levels.
The genocide, with American support, left 61,158 Palestinian martyrs and 151,442 wounded, most of them children and women. More than 9,000 people remain missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a famine that claimed the lives of many.
