Dozens of boats loaded with medical and humanitarian aid set sail from Spain on Sunday towards the Gaza Strip, as part of the international solidarity initiative (Global Fleet of Resilience) aimed at breaking the Israeli occupation's naval blockade on the territory.

The initiative involves volunteers, activists, and organizations from 44 countries, along with a large number of prominent figures, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and many journalists and doctors who have undergone intensive training to be able to travel on the ships.

It is expected that 20 ships will depart from the port of the city of Barcelona on the Mediterranean Sea, with other ships departing from Tunisia. Some media sources indicate that more than 30 other ships will set sail from other, undisclosed countries, as a precaution against sabotage attempts and pressure from the Israeli occupation.

Media reports indicate that these ships, loaded with urgent medical supplies and food aid, will meet with the Spanish ships in the open waters of the Mediterranean Sea on the 4th of next September.

The participants aim to break the Israeli blockade imposed on humanitarian aid, amidst calls to unify efforts against the genocide and ethnic cleansing practiced by the occupation in Palestine, in light of international inaction.

The former mayor of Barcelona and current Member of the European Parliament, Ada Colau, stated in a press declaration her support for the humanitarian initiative, describing the blockade as "unjust" and calling on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities.

The initiative is supported by a large number of Spanish artists and activists who told local media that the initiative comes in response to the failure of political institutions to end the siege on civilians, calling on the public to rebel against the silence by being physically present at the port of Barcelona.

The fleet's departure coincides with a severe crisis in relations between the self-governing region of Catalonia and the Israeli occupation authorities, following the decision of the regional Spanish government to cut all ties with the occupation government and its authorization of several anti-occupation demonstrations over the past months.