ISTANBUL: The aid flotilla "Break The Siege: Mission To Gaza 2024" which was planned for April 26 (Friday) will be delayed again, following pressure from the Zionist Regime to withdraw a flag state from the lead ship, Akdeniz, claimed Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).
"The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the trip to Gaza," FFC said in a statement Thursday.
However, FFC said it has received word of an administrative roadblock initiated by Israel to prevent the departure.
"Israel is pressuring the Republic of Guinea Bissau to withdraw its flag from our lead ship - Akdeniz (Mediterranean). This triggered a request for an additional inspection, this one by the flag state, that delays our April 26 planned departure," it said.
FFC said this is another example of Israel obstructing the delivery of life-saving aid to the people of Gaza who face a deliberately created famine.
"How many more children will die of malnutrition and dehydration because of this delay and an ongoing siege which must be broken?" asked the coalition.
FFC noted that this is not the first time Israel has used these kind of tactics to stop the ships from sailing.
"We have come through before and are diligently working to overcome this latest attempt. Our vessels have already passed all required inspections and we are confident that the Akdeniz will pass this inspection provided there is no political interference.
"We expect the delay to be no more than a few days. Israel will not break our resolve to reach the people of Gaza," said FFC.
Currently, 18 Malaysians have joined the international community in the mission to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip via sea routes due to the severe humanitarian situation in the region.
They comprise doctors, humanitarian activists, and media practitioners.
Among the Malaysian media practitioners participating in the flotilla are Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) writer and broadcast journalist Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd Yusof and Bernama TV cameraman Mohammad Nulhakim Jailan.
Activists from 30 countries, including Malaysia, have been gathering in Istanbul since April 18 for final preparations for the 'Break the Siege: Freedom Flotilla Mission to Gaza 2024'.
The original sailing date was April 21. Since then it has been postponed twice to April 24 and April 26.--BERNAMA