Sumud Flotilla determined as it nears Gaza, amid Israeli threats

• The Global Sumud Flotilla says its fleet has sailed into the “high-risk zone”, 150 nautical miles (278km) from Gaza, where previous flotillas were attacked or stopped by Israeli forces.
• UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have demanded that the Flotilla be left to proceed unharmed.

US congresspeople urge state secretary to protect Gaza-bound flotilla

Yesterday, nearly 20 members of Congress signed a letter urging US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to protect the flotilla seeking to break the siege on Gaza.

Led by Rashida Tlaib and signed by figures such as Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the letter said: “The safety of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s civilian passengers is at serious risk and requires immediate action.”

Directly addressing Rubio, the Congress members said he had failed to act when the Madleen and Handala flotillas were intercepted by Israel this summer, adding: “The 24 American citizens on board these ships cannot afford another failure of American leadership.”

“The law is clear: any attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla or its civilian crew is a clear and blatant violation of international law. The United States has an obligation to protect its citizens from foreign attack.”