(MENAFN) The Mikeno vessel, part of the Global Sumud humanitarian flotilla, reportedly entered Gaza’s maritime territory on Thursday morning.

This ship, which had separated from the main group, advanced into the area despite longstanding blockades.

As per the flotilla’s official tracking system, Mikeno crossed into Gaza's territorial waters.

However, the ship’s tracking signal was lost when it was still about 9.3 nautical miles away from Gaza’s coast.

It remains unclear whether the ship encountered Israeli forces, managed to evade them, or if there was a malfunction with the tracking device.

Ramazan Tunc, affiliated with the Türkiye Delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla, spoke to a news agency, stating that Mikeno had effectively breached the blockade by reaching Gaza’s territorial boundary.

He shared his enthusiasm, saying, “This means that the blockade has been broken in practice.”

Tunc continued, “I want to share with you the joy of bringing our ship Mikeno into Gaza, which for years, people said could not be broken, and which Israel has blockaded with great force from land and sea.”

He further highlighted the symbolic nature of this action, asserting, “Israel is a paper tiger,” and emphasized that the psychological impact was just as significant: “Most importantly, we have broken the blockade in our minds.”

He ended his statement with a hopeful message, anticipating a future where Gaza is free: “I greet everyone, hoping that the days when we will embrace our brothers and sisters in a free Gaza, in a Gaza where the blockade has been broken, are near.”

Another flotilla participant, Tulay Gokcimen, confirmed that Mikeno had not come under attack.

According to her, when an Israeli vessel approached, the activists discarded their mobile phones, and the Mikeno, due to its small size, continued onward.

Noelia Fernandez, who is coordinating the fleet’s Gaza efforts, informed the Spanish media that they had last received updates placing Mikeno about 7 miles from Gaza’s shores—less than an hour’s journey away.

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