Ships carrying humanitarian aid from Turkey to Gaza were prevented from sailing by an international shipping registry. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an organization aiming to end the Israeli blockade of Gaza, was contacted by the Guinea Bissau International Ships Registry requesting an inspection of their lead ship, Akdenez. Despite passing all required inspections, the registry withdrew the Guinea Bissau flag from two of the coalition’s ships, including one carrying over 5,000 tons of aid for Palestinians in Gaza. The FFC deemed this action as politically motivated and stated that they could not sail without a flag.
The registry’s unexpected demands for information about the mission to Gaza and the aid being transported were deemed unusual by the FFC. They compared it to registering a car without needing to disclose every destination and detail of the journey. In the midst of ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, reports indicate that residents in Northern Gaza are already facing famine. The United States Agency for International Development has warned of an imminent famine in northern Gaza and confirmed plans to work with the United Nations’ World Food Program to deliver aid to the region.
