A large crowd greeted Greta Thunberg at Tunisia’s port on Sunday as her aid flotilla, en route to Gaza, arrived.
The Swedish climate activist is accompanied by 350 pro-Palestinian activists aboard vessels carrying humanitarian aid intended for Palestinians in Gaza.
Images from the Sidi Bou Said port showed a multitude of people surrounding the 22-year-old as she addressed them. “We all know why we are here,” she stated. “Just across the water, there is a genocide occurring, a mass starvation perpetrated by Israel’s murder machine.”
Israel has consistently denied allegations of starvation in Gaza, attributing any food shortages to Hamas and failures on the part of aid agencies.
Last month, a UN-backed body confirmed the presence of famine within the territory, with the UN’s humanitarian chief citing Israel’s “systematic obstruction” of aid entering Gaza as a direct cause.
Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament, was present at the port.
“The Palestinian cause today rests not in the hands of governments, but in the hearts of people everywhere,” she remarked, commending those who stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Flotilla organizers have stated that the mission’s objective is to “break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza.” However, the journey has faced challenges; a previous attempt in June was intercepted by Israeli forces.
The current attempt commenced on Monday, with the flotilla of approximately 20 vessels departing from Barcelona.
According to Reuters, the group will remain in Tunisia for several days before continuing their voyage to Gaza.
“Some of the flotilla ships bound for Gaza has reached Sidi Bou Said port in Tunisia, where it will be expanded, loaded with additional aid, and joined by the Tunisian team for the next stage of the mission,” the collective group of activists Global Sumud Flotilla wrote on X.
Israeli authorities have previously characterized Thunberg’s efforts to deliver aid to Gaza as a publicity stunt lacking genuine humanitarian impact.
In March, Israel imposed a nearly three-month complete blockade on supplies entering Gaza, alleging that aid was being seized by Hamas. Following increased international pressure, a limited amount of aid was permitted back into the territory.
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