Libya’s Omar al-Mukhtar ship joins flotilla to break Gaza blockade

Libya is preparing to play a leading role in the ongoing Freedom Flotilla mission to break the blockade on Gaza, with the vessel Omar al-Mukhtar scheduled to depart Libyan shores on 6 September to join ships already sailing across the Mediterranean.

The flotilla brings together activists from Libya, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, including British journalist and campaigner Yvonne Ridley, who confirmed she will be sailing aboard the Libyan ship named after the country’s national hero.

Libya’s participation is part of a regional mobilisation of North African countries, with additional vessels expected to depart from Tunisia on 4 September, supported by activists from Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania. Organisers say this represents a strong regional show of solidarity with Gaza.

The flotilla is described as a humanitarian and peaceful mission, designed to deliver aid and challenge what organisers call an “illegal blockade”. They argue that the lack of decisive government action has forced civil society to step in.

Despite difficult weather affecting some vessels, the flotilla continues its journey at around 3.2 knots, heading towards Tunisia before beginning its final leg to Gaza.

Ahead of her arrival in Libya, Ridley called on boat owners across the Mediterranean to join the initiative and help strengthen the mission.

Libya’s involvement underlines its solidarity with the Palestinian people and its growing role as a regional voice on humanitarian and human rights issues, amid the continuing crisis in Gaza.