dis:orient

The ships are reaching the Tunisian shores by four o’clock at night. On board are people of 44 nationalities, uniting behind one cause: trying to stop the genocide in Gaza, breaking the everlasting siege since 2007 and ending the human-made famine that is the result of Israel’s blockade, preventing anything and anyone from entering or leaving Gaza.

Palestinian national flags are coloring the beach of Sidi Bou Said, hold in the hands of the Flotilla’s supporters. When asking them about their feelings, almost all of them give the same answer: “We wish we could join.” Mothers, daughters, sons, and fathers of all ages, with or without problems of their own, are all gathering around Wael Naouar, Greta Thunberg, Yasemin Acar and Thiago Ávila, listening carefully to their words.

Unpleasant surprise

The committees of both the Global Sumud Flotilla  (GSF) and the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla are announcing that they will be sailing to Gaza together on the 10th of September. The plan is going accordingly as the ships are settling. Participants are being registered and checked up. With clear steps to follow, everyone is waiting for the sailing date towards Gaza impatiently – hoping to bring about the change that no government has brought until today.

On the 9th of September, shortly after midnight, ­while the ships were still in Tunisian waters, incendiary munitions hit one of the main boats called “Family”. The ship is carrying the GSF steering committee members, sailing under the Portuguese flag. The committee of the GSF is claiming that it was an attack by an Israeli drone attempting to stop their mission. The official statement of the Tunisian General Directorate of the National Guard is claiming that the fire was triggered by a cigarette butt that fell on one of the life jackets on board. While this statement was never debunked officially, videos from different angles are being shared by the GSF, showing that something was fired from outside the boat. Further, the sound in the footage appears to belong to a flying object before a fireball hits the boat. Luckily, no passenger was harmed in this attack.

The Tunisian people are responding by gathering in the port within less than an hour after the incident, showing solidarity and expressing their support. One person in the crowd says: “We are not afraid to support the mission, and their attack is only a reminder of why we are doing this.” The GSF is stating in a press conference on the same day that they would continue to sail under any circumstances. Mohammed Mrad, a young Tunisian actor who is joining the GSF, is emphasizing: “Against everything that happened, we decided to sail on the same date.” His statement is reassuring the Tunisian people, many of whom had long awaited a mission like the GSF – one that supports the Palestinian people through action rather than words alone.

Bent but never broken

On the following day, the 10^th of September, again around midnight and while in Tunisian national waters, another ship called “Alma” was attacked. The crew members are retrieving a burnt electronic device from the deck. Again, no activists on board were harmed. The Tunisian Ministry of Interior is releasing a statement saying that “the attack on one of the ships docked in Sidi Bou Said port was an attack that demands further investigations.” Israel did not claim either of the attacks officially.

Despite the lack of official statements by Tunisian institutions or the government expressing solidarity with the GSF, the National Guards and the Police officers are being helpful in organizing the crowds and in the way they are dealing with participants, organizers, and supporters. The same goes for the administration of the port, which is a governmental institution as well – they are helping to create a safer space for the participants and are showing support. This leaves some wondering why such backing is conveyed only in this rather subtle manner.

“We will not be deterred. We will not be stopped. Together, we will sail to Gaza and break the siege.” This is the message of crew members following the attack. Louay Cherni, a Tunisian content creator and participant in the GSF, is stating: “Any attempt to attack the Global Sumud Flotilla will unite us more, and everyone is determined to sail.”

Again, videos of people showing support are flooding the internet: They are coming together around the flotilla, celebrating with fireworks as a defiant response to the attack. Their reactions are keeping the atmosphere warm, comfortable, and friendly, like nothing really happened.

The promised day

None of the attacks can break the spirit of the people impatiently waiting for the day of departure on September 10^th. Thousands are gathering in the Sidi Bou Said port: press, organizers, participants, and their families from all over the world. Chants demanding freedom for Palestine and expressing support for the GSF are heard all around, and flags are held high.

The time for setting sail is planned for around four o’clock in the evening. Everyone is busy finishing the final tasks, such as checking up on the participants or creating final lists of the aid on board each boat.

Unfortunately, the weather is bad, with wind going up to 80km/h and rain showering the city. The GSF committee decides that it would not be safe to sail under those circumstances. Instead, they are planning to sail to the Tunisian Bizerte port the following day for logistical reasons. Despite the change of plans, excitement is filling the air, and the participants are stating that they have never felt more ready.

Final steps

Unfortunately, the bad weather is prevailing the next day, preventing the ships from starting their journey towards Gaza. Instead, the ships are now setting off to the port of Bizerte as decided yesterday. For the people in Bizerte this is a great opportunity to greet the Flotilla. Again, people are gathering in masses to welcome the ships with Palestinian flags covering the port. They are showing support through songs, providing food and drinks to the GSF members and crews.

The next morning, the ships are approaching the final check-up point, the place from which they will be departing for international waters, one after another at three- to six-hour intervals. Three days later, on the 15^th of September, the ships will be meeting at the El Bounta shore in El Haouaria City and then sail together to meet the rest of the ships belonging to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

As the GSF is leaving the Tunisian frontier and continues its mission, the Tunisian people are following the news, checking up closely on those who left for the greater cause, knowing very well that their support will not end until the mission succeeds.

After renewed Israeli attacks on the 23^rd of September, hundreds are gathering in the streets of different Tunisian cities to show support and demand protection for the GSF while it completes its mission. In the meantime, the occupation army continues to increase its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, leaving no safe place.