We are aware of the risks: Canadians determined to break the siege of Gaza.

Twelve Canadians are part of a new flotilla that set sail from Greece and Turkey on Thursday, hoping to break the siege imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip for nearly 20 years. The international flotilla consists of 54 boats with over 500 people from more than 45 countries, according to organizers.

Organized by the “Global Flotilla Soumoud” and the “Freedom Flotilla Coalition,” this initiative is the second of its kind in two weeks. The previous one was intercepted on April 30 by Israeli forces in international waters. One hundred and seventy-five activists, including two Canadians, were briefly detained, including 22-year-old Quebec student Umir Tiar.

Contacted by Radio-Canada, Tiar stated that she remains determined to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory. Despite the lingering risks, she expressed the commitment to move forward with the mission to deliver aid to Gaza.

“We are ready to face any eventuality,” said Safa Chebbi, spokesperson for the “Global Flotilla Soumoud.”

The flotilla participants denounce the failure of the international community to establish a humanitarian corridor to Gaza. They call on Canada to impose an embargo on the transfer of any military equipment to Israel.

Ehab Lotayef, a 67-year-old engineer from Montreal, who has participated in multiple flotillas since 2011, expressed concerns about potential Israeli attacks. He emphasized the importance of peaceful response in the face of any interception or attack.

The blockade on Gaza has been in place since June 2007, significantly reinforced during the war triggered by Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to a mass famine in the Palestinian enclave, according to the United Nations.

Ko Timaung, a Rohingya activist from Toronto, participating for the first time in this initiative, drew parallels between the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and that of the persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar. He emphasized the interconnectedness of the two causes and the symbolic nature of the humanitarian aid being transported.

The risks taken by the flotilla participants are deemed necessary to draw attention to the ongoing crisis in Gaza and to challenge the perception of the blockade as invincible.

The Canadian government, through global affairs, stated its support for intensifying coordinated humanitarian aid efforts by the United Nations to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Both Israeli foreign ministry and the Israeli embassy in Ottawa were contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.