Organizers of an international flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza announced on Thursday that they plan to launch another mission in March, this time involving more than 100 boats, The Associated Press reported. <\/p>\n
Campaigners described the upcoming effort as the largest civilian\u2011led mobilization against Israel\u2019s actions in Gaza and urged the international community to prevent Israeli forces from intercepting the flotilla.<\/p>\n
The announcement was made at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa, with speakers including Mandla Mandela, grandson of the late South African president. <\/p>\n
Mandela participated in last year\u2019s Global Sumud flotilla and was detained along with other activists when Israeli forces intercepted their boat<\/a> before it reached Gaza. <\/p>\n Organizers said more than 1,000 activists, including medical doctors, war crimes investigators and engineers, will join the new mission. A land convoy is also planned, expected to draw thousands more participants from countries including Tunisia and Egypt.<\/p>\n The boats are expected to depart from Spain, Tunisia and Italy. Activists acknowledged the likelihood of confrontation with Israeli forces but said they were protected by international law. <\/p>\n Last year\u2019s flotilla involved about 50 vessels and 500 activists. An estimated 443 participants were detained, including Mandela, activist Greta Thunberg and European Parliament member Rima Hassan.<\/p>\n