Bristol, United Kingdom – A significant maritime vessel has departed from southern England, embarking on a mission to challenge Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza. The operation, spearheaded by the Greens, is part of a larger initiative involving a flotilla of activists, with the ‘Kate’ vessel serving as the primary participant. The event was marked by the farewell of ‘Swee Ang’, a doctor and founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians, and the presence of Welsh nurse Leigh Evans, who was sighted in June 2025 filming footage shared widely online depicting her kneeling before Egyptian soldiers, seeking permission to cross the border and deliver aid to Gaza. Also present were Professor David Miller, recently victorious in a legal battle against the University of Bristol concerning his anti-Zionist views, and Captain O Brolchain, an Irish sailor and captain of the ‘Kate’ vessel, who was detained by Israeli forces earlier this year during a previous mission. This operation, which has been ongoing since October 2023, has involved the interception and detention of over 75 solidarity ships and boats by Israeli forces, a number that has increased significantly since the start of the blockade. Frank Romano, a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and an international lawyer representing Palestinian cases, stated that since October 2023, Israeli forces have intercepted and detained more than 75 solidarity ships and boats, successfully retrieving only two vessels. Romano owns ‘Handala,’ a vessel named after a character created by the late Palestinian artist Naji al-Ali, which was intercepted and detained in July 2025. The Global Sumud Flotilla, a coalition of approximately 24 vessels, launched its initial mission last year and a significantly larger one in April. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined the movement and was among the flotilla’s passengers detained by Israel when their boat, the Alma, was intercepted in October. She reported experiencing physical and psychological abuse during her detention, which Israel denied. Colm Byrne, an Irish activist, is setting sail again after participating in previous flotilla attempts, and stated that in April, he was more than 1,000km (620 miles) from Gaza when Israeli forces intercepted. He described the situation as involving being kicked, beaten, and forced into painful postures, resulting in a shoulder injury for his members. Activists were made to spend four hours on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs before being transferred to prison, where they were forced to walk with their heads down or face the threat of being slapped, Byrne noted. However, he stressed that although he felt humiliated, the mistreatment does not compare with the scale of abuse suffered by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The event highlights the ongoing challenges faced by activists attempting to breach the Gaza blockade and underscores the humanitarian crisis in the region.”}
Watch Related Video
Source: Al Jazeera
