HÜDA PAR Deputy Faruk Dinç has vowed to press forward with the Global Sumud Flotilla’s mission to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, despite a recent drone attack on the fleet’s flagship vessel.

The Família Madeira, anchored off Tunisia’s coast in Sidi Bou Said, was struck on September 8 in what organizers and witnesses say was a deliberate Israeli drone strike. While Tunisian authorities suggested a possible internal malfunction, flotilla members insist the attack was carried out by an Israeli armed UAV—mirroring previous assaults on humanitarian missions bound for Gaza.

In a defiant video message shared on social media, Dinç declared that no threat would deter the flotilla’s mission: “We will set sail for Gaza and stop the genocide in Gaza. Everyone should support this fleet from wherever they are. We must stand united in humanity and take a clear stance against this oppression and genocide.”

The Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest civilian-led initiative to deliver aid to Gaza, includes dozens of aid-laden boats and activists from 44 countries. High-profile figures such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Portuguese politician Mariana Mortágua have joined the effort.

Organizers say the attack on the Família Madeira only reinforces their determination to defy Israel’s 18-year naval blockade, which has suffocated Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. The siege has triggered chronic shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, exacerbating a humanitarian catastrophe that rights groups describe as collective punishment.

The incident recalls a similar assault in May 2025, when a Freedom Flotilla vessel was hit twice by armed drones in international waters off Malta, causing severe damage and nearly sinking the ship. That attack, widely blamed on Israel, was condemned globally as a violation of international law.

Dinç’s call to action has sparked a surge of solidarity online. Supporters rallied around hashtags like #SumudFlotilla and #BreakTheBlockade, denouncing Israel’s strikes on humanitarian missions as “state-sponsored terrorism.”

Activists and human rights groups emphasize that the flotilla’s mission is not only about delivering aid, but also about confronting Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. According to Save the Children, more than 20,000 children have been killed by Israeli forces since October 2023.

Flotilla organizers announced they will hold a press conference today in Tunisia, featuring testimonies from passengers aboard the Família Madeira during the attack, along with updates on the fleet’s next steps.

Despite mounting threats, Dinç affirmed that the mission will continue: “We will continue to stand by the just and legitimate cause of Palestine and Gaza,” he said. “Our commitment to defy the blockade and deliver hope to the people of Gaza is unshakable.”

The Global Sumud Flotilla is preparing to set sail once again, with activists declaring that the attack has only strengthened their resolve. Supporters worldwide are being urged to rally behind this historic civilian effort to challenge Israel’s siege and stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. (ILKHA)