Speaking at a press conference in Tunis, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese praised the Global Sumud Flotilla as more than a symbolic act, describing it as a vital assertion of humanity in the face of systematic violence in Gaza. She highlighted that the flotilla represents a stand against what she identifies as genocidal actions, noting that genocide encompasses not only the killing of people but the destruction of culture, civilisation, and national identity. The deaths of over twenty thousand Palestinians, she said, exemplify an ongoing attempt to erase a people.

Albanese lauded the flotilla’s participants as courageous individuals risking their lives to deliver justice and hope. She emphasised that their struggle is not solely against the Israeli occupation but also against a global system that allows such atrocities to continue unchecked. “History shows that genocides often unfold under the silence of the world,” she warned. “This time, ordinary citizens are taking a stand, refusing to remain passive in the face of siege and systematic oppression.”

The flotilla, now docked in Tunisian waters at Sidi Bou Said, is preparing to set sail toward Gaza, carrying essential humanitarian supplies and determination to breach the blockade. Organisers stress that the mission embodies global solidarity and delivers a clear message: the world’s people will not stand idle while lives, communities, and futures are destroyed.