The ‘Sumud’ global flotilla sailed earlier from Marmaris, Turkey, heading to the Gaza Strip, aiming to ‘break the Israeli blockade.’ The flotilla includes 54 vessels and is organized by the Turkish organization IHH, which was behind the ‘Mavi Marmara flotilla’ in 2010 that sparked a severe diplomatic crisis between Jerusalem and Ankara and forced Israel to pay Turkey $20 million in compensation. The Israeli Navy is preparing for the flotilla’s arrival off Israel’s coast in the coming days and fears it could escalate into violence, given that IHH activists are on the boats.
