A vessel named Kate departed from Bristol on Sunday carrying twelve activists as part of an ongoing effort to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The departure marked the latest attempt by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to challenge Israel’s blockade of the territory. Supporters gathered at Hannover Quay to see off the boat and its crew, which included notable figures from the aid and activist communities.
The mission comes amid a documented pattern of interceptions by Israeli forces. According to flotilla representatives, more than 75 solidarity vessels have been stopped since October 2023, with only two successfully recovered through legal action. Captain Fiacc O Brolchain, an Irish sailor leading the current mission, was previously detained during an earlier flotilla attempt, during which he reported that hearing aids were confiscated while he was being interrogated.
Previous flotilla participants have described physical and psychological mistreatment during detention. Activists reported being subjected to beatings, painful restraint positions, and degrading treatment while in custody. The Global Sumud Flotilla, which coordinates these missions, has reportedly invested $24 million across multiple waves of attempts. Israel has intercepted every flotilla attempt since 2010, including those operating in international waters.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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