All Boats to Gather for Final Departure
All boats are expected to gather at the Marina Bizerte port in northern Tunisia for the final departure, which is scheduled to take place this Saturday, barring any last-minute changes.
Flotilla of Resilience Departs from Sidi Bou Saïd
As planned, around a dozen boats from the Flotilla of Resilience (Soumoud) left the port of Sidi Bou Saïd early yesterday morning and arrived a few hours later at the Marina Bizerte port. This is the first stop before the planned departure for Gaza. A second wave of boats was expected to arrive in the evening, subject to improved weather conditions, according to Khaled Boujemâa, a member of the organizing committee.
Logistical Reasons for Choosing Bizerte
Boujemâa explained that the decision to head to Bizerte was made for logistical reasons. "The port of Sidi Bou Saïd is too small and not deep enough to accommodate all the boats in the flotilla under optimal conditions. The port of Bizerte, which is larger and better equipped, has been designated as the main gathering point."
Preparations for Final Departure
All boats are expected to gather at the Marina Bizerte port in preparation for the final departure, which is scheduled to take place this Saturday, unless there are any last-minute changes. Some of the boats have already undergone minor repairs since their arrival, according to Boujemâa.
Call to Mobilize Support
While waiting for the departure to Gaza, Boujemâa called on Tunisians to mobilize massively at the Bizerte port to support the members of the flotilla, similar to the popular momentum observed in Sidi Bou Saïd. His call was answered, and hundreds of people had already arrived at the port yesterday evening, waving Palestinian and Tunisian flags in a show of solidarity.
Participation and Objectives
It is worth noting that in a statement made on Wednesday, September 10, at the port of Sidi Bou Saïd, Wael Naouar, a member of the flotilla's coordination committee, indicated that 72 Tunisians are participating in this mission, in addition to journalists, doctors, parliamentarians, and several personalities from the artistic world. The flotilla, which brings together participants from 44 countries, consists of around 50 boats and aims to break the blockade imposed on Gaza or, at the very least, to denounce its reality.
