Irish actor Liam Cunningham joined hundreds of activists at the launch of the Global Sumud Flotilla on Sunday.
The vessels, which set sail for Gaza from Barcelona, however returned later that day due to unsafe weather. The flotilla then set off again on Monday evening with ship horns blaring and activists chanting: “Free Palestine."
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the launch on Sunday, Game of Thrones star Cunningham looked emotional as he shared the video of a young Palestinian girl singing a song in Arabic that she wanted to be played at her funeral. The girl, Fatima, died last week, Cunningham said.
“What sort of a world have we slid into? What sort of a human hole have we found ourselves in when children, beautiful angels like that, five or six years old, are making their own funeral arrangements?” Cunningham asked, his voice breaking.
“Four days ago, Fatima was killed. She was killed by the Israelis. Somebody is going to be singing that song over that child's corpse. That's why I'm at this table, and that's why our flotilla is important.”
The flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, left from the Spanish city to try to “break the illegal siege of Gaza”, organisers said. It is expected to arrive in the waters of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip by mid-September.
Spanish actor Eduardo Fernandez was also at the event. “Whether we like it or not, Gaza is a mirror reflecting all of us. It is impossible not to take a position here,” he said. “Every boat sailing towards Gaza is a cry for human dignity. This mission is not a threat; it is an act of humanity against barbarity. Silence is complicity. And silence kills as much as bombs do.”
Besides Thunberg, the flotilla includes activists from several countries, plus European legislators and public figures, such as former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau. Organisers said other vessels were expected to join from Tunisia and other Mediterranean ports on September 4.
Israel has already prevented two attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza this year.
In June, 12 activists on board the sailboat Madleen were intercepted by Israeli forces 185km from Gaza. The passengers, including Thunberg, were detained and expelled.
In July, 21 activists from 10 countries were intercepted as they tried to approach Gaza in another vessel, the Handala.
The humanitarian situation has rapidly deteriorated since, culminating in the UN declaring a state of famine in the enclave.
Cunningham, an outspoken critic of Israel and its policies, was also at the launch of the Madleen in June. Wearing a cap with the name of pro-Palestine Irish group Kneecap, he called out more people to join the movement to put pressure on Israel, as other governments have failed.
“Western governments should have made these boats unnecessary to be making this trip,” Cunningham said at the press conference.
“The fact that you guys are here and the flotilla is happening, is an indication of the world's failure to uphold international law and humanitarian law, and it is a shameful, shameful period in the history of our world.”
