UN Special Rapporteur and Nelson Mandela's Grandson Praise Global Soumoud Flotilla
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, and Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, have praised the members of the Global Soumoud Flotilla, which will set sail from Tunis on Wednesday to break the Gaza blockade, in place for several months.
Speaking at the event, the UN official took the opportunity to pay tribute to the participants gathered at Mohamed Ali Square in the Tunisian capital, in front of the headquarters of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT). "You are an example of humanity. You are not weak; you are our hope," she said in a defiant tone. "It is true that the mission is perilous. But know that you are fighters and that we will not oppose Israel, but rather the entire system that protects this state," she added.
Last July, the United States imposed sanctions on the UN rapporteur following her damning reports, in which she documented the genocide committed by the Zionist entity against the population of Gaza, calling for the prosecution of those involved.
Italian lawyer and internationally renowned academic, Albanese also thanked Palestine and the Palestinians for "awakening in us the sense of humanity." Discussing the magnitude of the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza, the Special Rapporteur estimated that "the tragedy of Gaza does not mark the end of the world, but rather its beginning," assuring that "several crimes committed in the Gaza Strip have been revealed, but the most important thing is to work to address them and fight for the liberation of Palestine."
According to the latest report published by the Gaza government's information office, around 90% of the strip's infrastructure has been reduced to rubble after 700 days of war, during which the Zionist forces dropped over 125,000 tons of explosives, resulting in the near-total destruction of vital buildings and facilities in the Palestinian enclave.
For his part, Mandla Mandela, the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela, stated that over 35,000 people from around the world have expressed their desire to participate in the flotilla, adding that many of them were unable to obtain permission to join.
Mandela, who is leading the South African delegation participating in the flotilla, also praised the audacity and heroism of the participants in the global flotilla. "They will tell you that this mission is dangerous and that lifting the siege on Gaza is a difficult task," he addressed the participants, but expressed confidence in breaking the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, just like the South African people succeeded in ending the Apartheid regime.
Medical sources in Gaza reported on Monday that the death toll from the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, has reached 64,522, with 163,096 injured, including 67 deaths and 230 injuries in the past 24 hours.
