This came in a statement published by the fleet on the X platform on Thursday, in response to Ben-Gvir's statements on Wednesday, in which he said that "the boats in the fleet will be confiscated, and the people on board will be arrested and treated as suspected terrorists."
"Within days, the Global Resilience Flotilla will arrive on the shores of Tunisia, where additional ships will join it before continuing our journey to the shores of Gaza, loaded with life-saving humanitarian aid," the statement said.
The flotilla stated that it "strongly condemns Ben-Gvir's threats, which constitute an attempt to intimidate participants and falsely label them as 'terrorists,'" and emphasized that these Israeli threats "are not only false and unjust, but also constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions."
"We will not be deterred by flimsy threats from Israeli officials. Our mission is humanitarian, legal, and unstoppable," the flotilla said, emphasizing that "no intimidation, no smear campaign, no brutal act can silence the global demands for justice, dignity, and humanitarian aid. We have come together to do our utmost to break the blockade and restore hope to the children of Gaza and their families."
The statement explained that "the Israeli colonial settler occupation used these methods (threats and labeling them as terrorists) as a weapon against the Palestinian people, criminalizing them, treating them brutally, and degrading their humanity."
Israel has been besieging Gaza for 18 years, leaving approximately 1.5 million Palestinians out of a population of approximately 2.4 million in the Strip homeless after their homes were destroyed in the war of extermination.
Since March 2, Israel has closed all crossings into Gaza, preventing any food, medical treatment, or humanitarian aid from entering the Strip. This has plunged the Strip into famine, despite the backlog of aid trucks at its borders.
The flotilla noted that Israel was "silencing peaceful protests and human solidarity with Palestinians, in a desperate attempt to suppress global calls for justice."
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He said the latest attempt to intimidate the flotilla is "a continuation of the strategy of violence used against Palestinian civilians, journalists, medics, and international activists who dare to stand up against apartheid and genocide" in Palestine.
He stressed that "under international law, Gaza's 40-kilometer Mediterranean coastline is under the control of the people of Gaza, who have the right to receive ships, goods, and people through its territorial waters."
The flotilla emphasized that "Palestinians should have sovereign rights to use their sea for trade, fishing, and travel. However, since 2007, Palestinians have been victims of an illegal, comprehensive naval, air, and land blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation."
He added: "The Global Steadfastness Flotilla stands united in its humanitarian mission to deliver urgently needed food, water, and medical supplies to the Palestinian people, who are suffering from a catastrophic genocide, famine, and a worsening health crisis caused by Israel's illegal blockade of Gaza."
He stressed that the flotilla, representing 44 countries, includes "doctors, nurses, parliamentarians, journalists, and human rights defenders committed solely to alleviating the humanitarian suffering" of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He called on the international community, the United Nations, and all governments to "stand firmly by our side and ensure our safe arrival in Gaza."
He also called on independent observers and the media to join the fleet in documenting the voyage "to ensure full transparency and accountability."
On Sunday, approximately 20 ships as part of the "Resilience Fleet" set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona, followed by another convoy at dawn on Monday from the port of Genoa in northwestern Italy.
These ships are expected to meet another convoy departing from Tunisia next Sunday, before continuing its journey towards Gaza in the coming days.
The flotilla consists of the Freedom Flotilla Union, the Global Gaza Movement, the Steadfastness Flotilla, and the Malaysian "Sumud Nusantara" organization.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 64,231 martyrs and 161,583 wounded, most of them children and women, thousands missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a famine that has killed 370 Palestinians, including 131 children.
