Photo: Collected
The new Freedom Flotilla with humanitarian shipment for the Gaza Strip will involve activists from 60 countries and is scheduled to depart from Istanbul for the Palestinian enclave on April 21, Turkish humanitarian relief foundation IHH told on Monday (16 April).
"The departure of the Freedom Flotilla vessels is scheduled for April 21. The ships will depart from Istanbul to the port of Gaza," the foundation said.
The ships' departure may be postponed but for reasons unrelated to the recent escalation in the region between Israel and Iran, the foundation also said.
"Three IHH vessels will sail, and one more will depart from Italy. We are also waiting for ships from other countries," the organization added.
The Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition was established in 2010 by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH). The coalition aimed to support the Palestinian people and deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by breaking the Israeli blockade of the enclave.
The last Freedom Flotilla sent to the Gaza Strip in 2010 ended with the interception of the ships by Israel and the death of nine Turkish citizens participating in the initiative. Relations between Turkey and Israel remained tense after the incident. The countries signed an agreement to normalize relations only in 2016, with Israel transferring $20 million in compensation to Turkey for the deaths of the Turkish citizens.
Messenger/Mumu
