Open Arms joins the upcoming Gaza Flotilla

BarcelonaHeOpen Arms, The flagship vessel of the Badalona-based humanitarian organization, which has saved more than 73,000 people in the Mediterranean, joins the Global Sumud Flotilla. which will set sail from Barcelona on April 12th with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. It will be one of a hundred vessels bringing supplies and personnel for the healthcare system and the reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave after more than two years of Israeli genocide. Specifically, the humanitarian rescue ship will carry medical personnel and supplies.

According to the organization, Open Arms' participation in the flotilla stems from the conviction that, given the violation of fundamental rights and the inadequacy of political action, civil society and humanitarian organizations have a responsibility to act to protect human life and dignity. The ship will also independently document any relevant incidents and reinforce a safe humanitarian space for the arrival of essential aid, in accordance with international maritime law and international humanitarian law.

In 2024, Open Arms partnered with the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK), founded by chef José Andrés, to open a maritime humanitarian corridor in Gaza, an initiative that had the support of the Biden administration. In its first mission, it delivered, via a pier that had to be expressly built on the beach of Gaza, 200 tons of food for the Palestinian population suffering from hunger imposed by Israel. The project was halted after the Israeli army fired on a WCK-branded vehicle, killing seven of its aid workers.

The Global Sumud Flotilla will attempt to reach Gaza for the second time, after its October attempt. The Israeli navy will intercept their ships a few miles off the coast of the Gaza Strip.At the press conference held at the Nelson Mandela Center in South Africa, where the spring mission was announced, organizers explained that some 3,000 volunteers and about 100 boats would participate. The initial departure date was March 29, but the involvement of Latin American organizations in the flotilla to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Cuba has led to a delay until April 12.