Gaza flotilla activists arrive in Tunisia, welcomed by hundreds of supporters

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist who has recently aligned herself with anti-Israel causes, arrived in Tunisia on Sunday with fellow Gaza flotilla activists, where hundreds of supporters greeted them at the port. The flotilla is organized by the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Unconfirmed reports stated that as many as 1,000 people greeted the anti-Israel activists in the North African country, which used to host the Palestine Liberation Organization headquarters in the 1980s and still has no official diplomatic relations with Israel.

“We all know why we are here,” Thunberg told the supporters. “Just across the water there’s a genocide going on, a mass starvation by Israel’s murder machine,” she stated.

European Parliament Member Rima Hassan praised the Gaza flotilla at the Sidi Bou Said port in Tunisia.

“The Palestinian cause is not in the hands of governments today. It is in the hearts of peoples everywhere,” Hassan stated. She welcomed what she described as the “role that the people play today in the face of the cowardice of states that prevent any solidarity with the Palestinian people.” However, Hassan did not reveal whether she intended to join the flotilla when it resumes its scheduled voyage to the Gaza coast on Wednesday.

Last week, the Gaza flotilla set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona, with Tunisia marking its latest stop. Thunberg and the other activists allege that Israel is causing “mass starvation” in Gaza and have pledged to break the blockade. Israel maintains that the blockade, which does not restrict food or other essentials, is intended to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons into the territory. According to organizers, more than 130 participants from multiple countries are traveling on separate vessels, making this the largest Gaza flotilla to date.

In June, Thunberg and other anti-Israel activists were stopped by the Israeli Navy when their sailboat “Madleen” attempted to reach the Gaza Strip.

“The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to unauthorized vessels under a legal naval blockade, consistent with international law. The yacht is claiming that it is delivering humanitarian aid,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated at the time.

“In fact, it is a media gimmick for publicity (which includes less than a single truckload of aid) – a ‘selfie yacht’. Humanitarian aid is delivered regularly and effectively via different channels and routes,” the Israeli foreign ministry continued, emphasizing that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) had distributed 11 million meals since late May.

Thunberg and the other anti-Israel activists were detained in Israel and later deported. She claimed at the time that she and her fellow anti-Israel activists had been “kidnapped” by Israel.

“We were 12 peaceful volunteers sailing on a civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid on international waters. We did not break laws. We did nothing wrong,” she argued.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar dismissed Thunberg and her colleagues as celebrities driven by a desire to receive media attention.

“Greta and her friends brought in a tiny amount of aid on their celebrity yacht. It did not help the people of Gaza. This was nothing but a ridiculous gimmick,” Sa’ar said.