This video grab taken from a livestream broadcasted on Oct 2 by the Global Sumud Flotilla showing Israeli navy soldiers (up) boarding the vessel 'Oxygono', one of the Sumud flotilla boats, aiming at breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. — Global Sumud Flotilla handout/AFP
BY the end of the day this past Thursday, Israeli forces had intercepted all the boats that were a part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The 450 activists, which included Pakistanis, in the flotilla of over 40 boats were headed to the coast of Gaza to break the 18-year-long naval blockade of the occupied Strip.
They were bringing baby formula, humanitarian supplies and medicines to Gaza's starving people of whom many are children. In a world which has stood by as new tribulations have been visited upon the hapless Palestinians at the hands of Israeli authorities, the flotilla hoped to bring the message that the international community had not forgotten them.
