Greta Thunberg and a flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists arrived at the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said on Sunday, drawing large crowds as the group paused to expand and load humanitarian supplies before a planned voyage to Gaza.
Thunberg was travelling with about 350 activists on roughly 20 vessels that set sail from Barcelona on Monday, organisers said. Pictures from the port showed thousands surrounding the 22-year-old activist as she addressed the crowd, saying, “We all know why we are here. Just across the water there's a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel's murder machine.”
Flotilla organisers, who are sailing under the Global Sumud Flotilla banner, said on X that some ships had reached Sidi Bou Said and would be expanded, loaded with additional aid and joined by a Tunisian team for the next stage of the mission. The group said its aim is to "break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza." Organisers said they would remain in Tunisia for a few days before resuming the journey.
French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, who attended the port gathering, said the Palestinian cause is in the hearts of people worldwide and praised those standing in solidarity with Palestinians.
Israeli authorities have previously described Thunberg's earlier attempt to sail aid to Gaza as a publicity stunt that offered little real humanitarian assistance. In June, an earlier flotilla attempt was intercepted by Israeli forces, and Israeli officials have repeatedly denied that there is widespread starvation in Gaza, blaming hunger on Hamas and failures by aid agencies.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has drawn international scrutiny. A UN-backed body last month confirmed that famine exists in parts of the territory, and the UN's humanitarian chief said the famine was the direct result of what the UN described as Israel's "systematic obstruction" of aid entering Gaza. Israel imposed a near-total blockade on supplies entering the Gaza Strip in March, saying it acted to prevent aid from being diverted by Hamas; it later allowed a limited amount of aid into the territory after mounting international pressure.
Organisers say the flotilla is carrying aid intended for civilians in Gaza. Israeli officials have signalled concern about sea approaches to the territory, and past interceptions underline the risks the activists face if they attempt to reach Gaza by sea. The latest stop in Tunisia provides an opportunity for the flotilla to bolster its supplies and coordinate with local partners before any further movement toward Gaza.
The movement adds to a series of international efforts and protests seeking to increase pressure on Israel to ease restrictions on the flow of goods into Gaza. The flotilla's presence in Tunisia follows broader diplomatic and humanitarian discussions about how to ensure safe and effective delivery of aid to civilians in the besieged territory.
The flotilla's organisers and participants said they intended to continue their campaign despite previous interceptions and criticisms, and Tunisian authorities have so far allowed the vessels to dock and to prepare for the next phase of the mission.