In a statement on Thursday morning, Esmaeil Baghaei said that the humanitarian action of the popular groups of the Sumud flotilla in supporting the oppressed people of Palestine and trying to break the oppressive siege of the Gaza Strip, describing the Zionist regime's attack on the flotilla as a clear violation of international rules and also a terrorist act.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of about 50 ships with over 500 activists onboard, set sail earlier this month to break Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, to the besieged Palestinian territory

According to the organizers, the Sumud flotilla has been described as the largest maritime mission of its kind in decades, with more than 50 vessels and delegations from at least 44 countries expected to converge on Gaza’s waters in coming days.

It was reported yesterday that the global Sumud flotilla, an international aid fleet bound for Gaza, had reached 100 m from the Gaza shores where they were attacked or intercepted by Israeli forces.

The flotilla, made up of about 50 ships with over 500 activists onboard, set sail earlier this month to break Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, to the besieged Palestinian territory

According to the organizers, the Sumud flotilla has been described as the largest maritime mission of its kind in decades, with more than 50 vessels and delegations from at least 44 countries expected to converge on Gaza’s waters in coming days.

The flotilla was attacked last week by projectiles launched by Israeli drones, while anchored in Tunisia on September 8 and 9. The Tunisian government described the attacks as "premeditated".

Palestinians in Gaza have been battling genocide, devastation, and famine. UN investigators recently concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, where more than 66,000 people have been killed since October 2023.

Israel's blockade on humanitarian aid has left Gaza’s 2.2 million residents with dwindling access to food, clean water, and medicine, conditions that UN officials warn have reached a “nightmare scale.”