One of the vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, the Greek-flagged vessel Mikeno, has successfully entered Gaza’s territorial waters, according to the flotilla’s live tracker on Thursday.     

The entry of Mikeno marks a significant moment in the international humanitarian mission aimed at breaking Israel’s illegal naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. While the status of the vessel remains uncertain—amid fears of Israeli naval interception—its arrival inside Gaza’s waters signals the flotilla’s determination to reach the besieged enclave.

The report confirmed that the flotilla currently operates 24 active ships, several of which are positioned near Gaza’s territorial waters. The ships carry medical supplies, food, and essential aid desperately needed by Palestinians enduring the 18-year Israeli blockade, compounded by the ongoing genocidal war that has devastated the Strip since October 2023.

Uncertainty surrounds whether Mikeno has been intercepted or harassed by Israeli naval units. In previous hours, Israeli warships had been shadowing parts of the convoy in international waters, raising fears of another violent assault similar to past attacks on aid flotillas, including the 2010 Mavi Marmara massacre and this week’s interception of other Sumud vessels.

For Palestinians and international activists, the sight of even one ship reaching Gaza’s territorial line carries powerful symbolic weight. Activists describe Mikeno’s entry as “a breach in the wall of siege,” underscoring the determination of the flotilla to challenge Israel’s control over Gaza’s sea.

Human rights observers stressed that Israel has no legal basis to prevent humanitarian ships from entering Gaza, pointing out that such interceptions in international waters constitute piracy and violations of international maritime law.

The flotilla seeks to deliver aid at a time when Gaza is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history. More than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since October, most of them women and children, with hospitals collapsing under shortages of fuel, medicine, and equipment. Nearly two million people have been forcibly displaced, the majority now crammed into Rafah in desperate conditions.

The Mikeno’s breakthrough has already sparked celebrations in solidarity groups across the region, while pro-Palestinian activists urge the international community to protect the flotilla and ensure safe passage for the remaining vessels.

Despite Israel’s threats, the Global Sumud Flotilla continues to press forward, carrying not only aid but also a message of resistance against siege, occupation, and genocide. (ILKHA)