The ship Konstanz, heading towards Gaza, accidentally touched the eight other ships in the fleet ahead due to its higher speed. The speed has now been reduced, and all nine ships are moving together in unison, according to Shahidul Alam, managing director of Drik and a photographer, who posted the update on Facebook on Saturday afternoon.
Konstanz is part of the international initiatives Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Medics to Gaza (TMTG). FFC is a global effort to break Israel’s blockade and deliver aid to Gaza. However, no food aid is being carried on this fleet.
Shahidul Alam described the “Thousand Medics” initiative as symbolic, yet this is the largest assembly of ships at sea so far. Although Konstanz departed last and is the largest ship, its speed caused it to touch the eight ships ahead. Now all ships are proceeding together in coordination.
Expressing firm resolve to break the Gaza blockade, he stated, “We are determined to break the blockade. If we are stopped, others will continue. Oppressors can never withstand the power of the people. Israel will fail. Palestine will be free.”
According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s website, 25 journalists and healthcare workers from different countries are on board Konstanz. The mission began last Wednesday, carrying international journalists and medical personnel toward Gaza.
For the past two years, Israel has prevented foreign journalists from entering Gaza. During this period, Palestinian journalists have been targeted, and since October 2023, over 270 journalists have been killed, while many others have been detained or imprisoned.