An international flotilla seeking to breach the blockade on the Gaza Strip is currently en route to the coastline, declaring its mission as delivering humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, though previous flotila projects served chiefly as symbolic, provocative moves without significant amounts of aid being transported.

The “Global Sumud” flotilla departed from Barcelona, Spain, in mid-April, and reached the port of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy, on Thursday.

A flotilla organized by the same group in September of last year was met with decisive Israeli action, including a naval interception in international waters, the detention of hundreds of activists aboard, and their subsequent deportation from Israel. That operation was later found to have ties to the Hamas terror group.

The current convoy includes members of civil society groups, activists, and volunteers from multiple countries. Some participants told a Turkish news agency that their objective is to establish a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, support rebuilding efforts, and show solidarity with residents of the Gaza Strip.

Roughly 100 vessels are expected to participate in the flotilla, with ships originating from Turkey and Greece.