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Mediterranean Sea – Everybody gathered on the highest deck of a World Sumud Flotilla vessel loaded with humanitarian provides for Gaza and volunteers decided to ship it.
Safety protocols in case of an emergency had been reviewed and put into motion: life vests, head counts and designated muster factors.
They had been coaching for situations that might happen on any vessel – fireplace, somebody falling overboard, collision.
However this coaching was totally different as a result of there was one other state of affairs.
The volunteers had been instructed on how you can elevate their fingers within the occasion that Israeli troopers intercepted the vessel, boarded it and detained them. The main focus is on performing in a nonviolent method, in accordance with their mission.
The flotilla was approaching the “yellow zone” after it departed from Sicily, Italy – the zone in worldwide waters between Italy and Cyprus the place Israeli assaults are attainable – and it was time to practise how you can act if an assault occurred.
‘Previous propaganda technique’
The Israeli Ministry of Overseas Affairs just lately described the humanitarian flotilla, which is crusing to interrupt the Israeli siege on the folks of Gaza, as a “jihadi flotilla” and claimed it has ties to Hamas.
The so-called “Flotilla to Gaza” is overtly backed by jihadi Hamas.
In Hamas’s personal phrases: “We name for mobilizing all means to assist the World Steadfastness Flotilla heading to Gaza.”
This isn’t humanitarian. This can be a jihadist initiative serving the phobia group’s agenda. pic.twitter.com/vciWdnTswC
— Israel Overseas Ministry (@IsraelMFA) September 18, 2025
Earlier this month, because the flotilla set sail from Spain, Israeli Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir introduced that he wished to declare the humanitarian activists “terrorists” and detain them accordingly.
Flotilla steering committee member Saif Abukeshek, chatting with journalists on-line on Saturday, mentioned such allegations are “psychological warfare” and added: “The propaganda is an outdated technique.”
Within the coaching, a coordinator tells the gathered group: “We’ve got to determine collectively whether or not we’ll react or whether or not somebody ought to intervene if troopers start to beat one in every of us.”
The query was met with silence however couldn’t be averted. Holding a bullhorn, the coordinator took the initiative.
“If I’m dragged or crushed, I don’t need any of you to react or inform the troopers to cease. Please respect my choice.”
The bullhorn was handed round. One after the other, the volunteers repeated the phrases. By the third volunteer, the phrase had been decreased to 2 phrases: “the identical”. All of the volunteers echoed it.
The technique was conceived to stop additional violence. Any response – even asking Israeli troopers to cease – might provoke them to extra violence.
One volunteer summed it up: “In case you react or communicate up whereas being crushed, you’ll not solely put your personal security in danger but in addition that of the others – and you’ll break the need of the group.”
One other informed Al Jazeera: “We all know why we’re right here and the dangers we now have taken.”
Psychological and bodily pressures
The delays and challenges the flotilla has confronted have taken a toll on its organisers and volunteers alike.
Drone assaults whereas at port in Tunisia, technical difficulties confronted by boats ill-suited to the excessive seas and the final difficulties inherent in organising an underfunded civilian initiative to sail to Gaza have put stress on everybody.
Each individual on board additionally has to do an evening watch, scanning the skies all night time for extra drone assaults whereas their companions relaxation.
When requested what retains them going, every of them cites the urge to behave to assist the folks of Gaza, who’re struggling bombardments, hunger and loss as Israel wages warfare on them.
They know they’re crusing into dangerous waters as a result of Israel has intercepted all previous flotillas, even killing 10 folks on board the Mavi Marmara a decade in the past.
The boats had set out for Sicily from Tunisia on Tuesday with a decreased variety of folks on board after arduous selections had been made.
There have been extra folks desirous to be on a flotilla boat than there was capability on the vessels, particularly as some boats failed technical inspections – the organisers worrying about their skill to deal with the unpredictable nature of the Mediterranean.
Lists had been learn in Bizerte, Tunisia. Crews had been reshuffled among the many boats, and tears flowed as volunteers who had cast sturdy emotional ties mentioned their goodbyes.
Their half on board the mission was over for now, however their assist for the flotilla sure for Gaza would proceed on land.
Some talked to the coordinators to attempt to get their spots again. Others waited with their colleagues on the boats, serving to out till they needed to return to a resort to await their flights again house.
“Please put this [Palestinian] flag someplace on the boat. It has been in my good friend’s window for years,” mentioned Marcin, a Polish volunteer residing in Norway who was amongst these lower from the crew checklist.
Ultimately, everybody boarded their assigned ships and met their crews. All fingers had been on deck to scrub and put together the vessels for the following leg of the journey to Italy. A few of the volunteers have crusing expertise, and others with no earlier crusing expertise realized rapidly to assist out.
After a number of days in Italy, the boats have set out once more, crusing by the yellow zone, getting ever nearer to the purple zone, the place the hazard multiplies 100 nautical miles (185km) from the Gaza shore.
And the drills proceed.
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