Sumud Flotilla for Gaza forced to turn back due to weather conditions

"The Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid to the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip has been forced to turn back due to poor weather, according to a statement by the group and sources travelling with the mission. The flotilla said on X that strong winds on Sunday of more than 30 knots (55.6 kilometres per hour, or 34.5 miles per hour) on the Mediterranean Sea could have posed a problem for smaller boats in the convoy."

"The decision was made by the [flotilla] steering commission to turn back towards Barcelona's La Vela port, where they arrived after 22:00 (10pm, or 20:00 GMT), Al Jazeera's Mauricio Morales said while reporting from the Familia, part of the flotilla. The decision to turn back was taken about three hours earlier, Morales added. The flotilla, which had set off from Barcelona on Sunday, said on X that it conducted a sea trial and made the decision to return to port to allow the storm to pass. According to Morales, a second attempt to set off is expected on Monday."

"This is the third aid flotilla of its kind in recent months to attempt to break the Israeli siege on Gaza. Previous attempts have been unsuccessful with Israeli naval forces illegally intercepting the boats in international waters. Organisers said the Global Sumud Flotilla is the largest maritime mission to Gaza, bringing together more than 50 ships and delegations from at least 44 countries."

Severe Mediterranean winds of more than 30 knots forced the Global Sumud Flotilla to turn back to Barcelona's La Vela port after a sea trial found conditions unsafe for smaller boats. The steering commission ordered the return; vessels arrived after 22:00 local time following a decision taken about three hours earlier. The flotilla set off from Barcelona carrying volunteers and humanitarian supplies aboard dozens of small civilian vessels and had planned to rendezvous with a second wave in Tunisia, a meeting now slightly delayed. The mission includes over 50 ships and delegations from at least 44 countries.

Read at www.aljazeera.com