The flotilla announced on Facebook that it had crossed the Gaza Strip's territorial waters, with only 8.4 nautical miles separating it from the Gaza coast, a move it described as the closest since the launch of the voyage, which was attended by international activists.
In a message to the fleet members, he said: "Our heroes, you are now breathing the air of Palestine and glimpsing its pure land. The people of Khiam and their unwavering steadfastness are waving before you. Gaza, which seemed so distant to us, has now loomed beyond the waves, and our hearts are with it on the shore, awaiting you."
He added, "We salute you from the land of Tunisia. We shout your names and the voices of hundreds of squares: We are behind you, and we extend to you our arms of support and steadfastness."
Early Thursday morning, the flotilla said that 30 of its ships continued sailing approximately 46 miles from Gaza, despite ongoing Israeli attacks, including water cannons and deliberate ramming of ships, which constitute a "crime against humanity."
In a related development, the fleet's tracking system revealed that the Spanish ship "Mekino" was positioned approximately 9 nautical miles from Gaza. A member of the Turkish delegation to the flotilla, Ramazan Tunç, confirmed to Anadolu Agency that the "Mekino" had breached the blockade and entered the Gaza Strip's territorial waters, saying, "This means that the blockade has effectively been broken."
"The most important thing is that we have broken the siege in our minds, and we hope that the days are approaching when we can embrace our brothers in a free Gaza," Tong added. Tulay Gokcemen, a member of the Turkish delegation, explained that the ship did not face any direct interference, noting that the activists threw their phones into the sea after an Israeli boat approached, then continued on their way due to the ship's small size.
Noelia Fernandez, the flotilla's Gaza coordinator, confirmed to Spanish media that the Mekino was now seven miles off the coast of Gaza, less than an hour from arrival.
The Steadfastness Flotilla announced on Wednesday evening, via the X platform, that it had been attacked by approximately 10 Israeli ships in international waters, prompting it to issue a distress call, describing the attack as a "war crime."
He added, early Thursday morning, that 30 of the 44 ships continue to sail within 46 miles of Gaza, despite being subjected to continuous Israeli attacks, including pressurized water spraying and deliberate collisions, which he considered a "crime against humanity."
The fleet published a list of the names of 21 ships that were subjected to Israeli attacks, including the Alma, Sirius, Adara, Deir Yassin, Grand Bleu, Karma, Mohammed Bahar, and Free Willy.
International organizations, including Amnesty International, called for protection for the ships, while the United Nations stressed that any attack on them was "unacceptable."
The occupation forces have previously intercepted ships bound for Gaza, seized them, and deported the activists on board. This is the first time that dozens of ships have set sail together toward the Strip, home to approximately 2.4 million Palestinians, in an effort to break the blockade imposed since 2007.
Since March 2, Israel has continued to close the crossings into Gaza, preventing the entry ofhumanitarian aid. This has caused widespread famine, despite the backlog of trucks at the border. Israel sometimes allows limited quantities of aid into Gaza, insufficient to alleviate the crisis.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, leaving 66,148 martyrs and 168,716 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 455 Palestinians, including 151 children.