(MENAFN) Sixteen vessels set sail from Tunisian harbors as part of the Global Sumud Fleet for Gaza, a major international flotilla of civilian boats aiming to bypass Israel's blockade on the territory and provide humanitarian assistance.

Khaled Boujemaa, a member of the Maghreb contingent of the Global Sumud Flotilla, told a news agency that 11 of the vessels departed from Bizerte Port in northern Tunisia between Saturday evening and late Sunday.

Boujemaa added that three ships set sail from Gammarth Port in the capital, while two others left Sidi Bou Said Port near Tunis.

On Sunday, spokesperson Ghassan al-Hanshiri informed the news agency that two ships left Gammarth Port en route to Gaza, and “a third Tunisian ship was preparing to depart shortly,” emphasizing that “a total of eight Tunisian ships are currently docked at Gammarth.”

He noted that additional ships remain in Sidi Bou Said Port, while vessels from Italy and Spain have already departed, and all are expected to converge in the Mediterranean on their journey to Gaza.

The first vessel of the Global Sumud Flotilla left Tunisia’s Bizerte Port on Saturday, accompanied by 18 boats from Sicily’s Augusta Port, heading toward Gaza.

According to a correspondent from the news agency and flotilla spokesperson, the flotilla comprises dozens of vessels and hundreds of participants from 47 Arab and Western countries, including notable politicians, artists, and parliamentarians.

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