SAEDNEWS: A Libyan hospital ship has departed to join the Global Sumud Flotilla, a mission aimed at breaking Israel’s long-running blockade of Gaza and delivering aid to Palestinians under siege.
The Omar al-Mukhtar, equipped with an intensive care unit, emergency medical supplies, and essential aid, departed on Sunday after weather delays, according to spokesperson Nabil al-Soukni. The ship carries tents for displaced Palestinians, medicines, baby formula, and other critical supplies, while also accommodating activists from smaller boats unable to continue the journey.
“The support we received in Libya boosted the morale of the crew aboard the Omar al-Mukhtar,” al-Soukni said. Among the passengers is former Libyan Prime Minister Omar al-Hassi, alongside international activists. Medical officer Abdel Rahman Humaid confirmed the vessel is fully outfitted for intensive care, ensuring preparedness for emergencies.
This mission is part of a dozen-ship flotilla sailing from North African and European ports, planning to converge near Malta before heading toward Gaza. Organizers claim it is the largest international effort in nearly 20 years to break Israel’s blockade of the enclave.
The mission arrives amid UN findings that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, where over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 under relentless Israeli assaults. The flotilla represents a humanitarian and political push to challenge the ongoing blockade and deliver urgently needed aid.
