US congresswoman demands protection for Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - A prominent US congresswoman on Monday demanded safe passage for a humanitarian aid flotilla now on its way to Gaza.

“The Global Sumud Flotilla is sailing to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians who are being starved to death by the Israeli government. They must be fully protected,” Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian American woman to serve in Congress, posted on the US social media platform X, alongside a letter she sent to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“I’m leading a letter to the Trump Administration demanding safe passage and calling for an end to the blockade and genocide,” she added.

Decrying the harassment of the ships en route to Gaza and the inaction of the Trump administration to stop the genocide in the enclave, Tlaib called on Rubio to “deter any further hostile actions against the flotilla and ensure the successful completion of its humanitarian mission.”

“Above all else, we urge you to address the issue at root of this voyage: the brutal Israeli blockade and genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza,” the letter said.

More than a dozen members of Congress signed the letter, calling for the Trump administration to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of the flotilla.

- Gaza aid flotilla

The Global Sumud Flotilla, including dozens of ships, has been sailing towards Gaza for days. The fleet carries a large amount of humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, and constitutes the largest fleet to set sail for Gaza to date.

Sumud, which means “steadfastness” or “unwavering determination” in Arabic, gained new importance among the Palestinian people after the 1967 Arab–Israeli war (Six-Day War) to describe oppression and resistance.

​​​​​​​The concept of Sumud refers to the search for ways to resist the occupation and build alternative institutions through the Palestinians remaining on their land, keeping the Palestinian identity and culture alive, and non-violent civil disobedience. In Palestine, the olive tree and a pregnant peasant are used to illustrate this concept.

The Israeli army has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable and led to starvation and the spread of disease.

In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.