A native of Bizerte Governorate in northern Tunisia, he grew up amidst the tumult of waves and the scent of the port where he worked as a commander of commercial ships. However, the scenes of genocide and starvation in Gaza that he witnessed daily made him feel that his place was not on the dock but in the heart of the sea, on a humanitarian mission to Palestine. When the Global Resilience Fleet announced its new journey to break the blockade imposed on the sector for more than 17 years, Mohamed Ali did not hesitate to volunteer. He joined the ship “Amsterdam,” hoping to be part of a message of life and peace, within a humanitarian initiative that breaks the wall of silence. However, the journey was incomplete, as Israeli forces intercepted the fleet and detained its crew under difficult conditions before deporting them to their countries after a series of violations.
“I have always followed the massacres committed by Israel against the Palestinian people and felt a great helplessness whenever I saw those scenes. Therefore, I was searching for any way to contribute, even a little, to a humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the blockade on Gaza. When the Global Resilience Fleet announced its need for ship captains to participate in this journey, I did not hesitate for a moment to answer the call. Initially, I was asked for technical consultation as a navigation specialist, where I had to assess the readiness of the ships heading towards the sector. I discovered that most of them suffered from mechanical failures that would not allow them to undertake a long journey into the sea. I was worried that the Spanish fleet, which was docked, would set off before the Tunisian ships were ready. So, I decided to work long hours with a team of technicians and mechanics to prepare the ship “Amsterdam,” until it was ready to sail in just one night.
Certainly, the Israeli attack on the port of Sidi Bou Said did not scare any of the participants in the fleet; on the contrary, it increased our determination and insistence on moving forward. We felt that we were facing a real enemy and that our humanitarian responsibility imposed on us to stand united against it. After the attack, we received a large number of requests from new volunteers who wanted to join the fleet as an expression of their solidarity. As for those who withdrew, their withdrawal was not out of fear but due to technical failures in some ships that prevented them from participating in the sailing.
I received the news of my father’s death while on board the ship, and the news was very painful, shaking me from the inside. At that moment, I thought about returning, but I realized that the road would be long and difficult and that my withdrawal would not change the reality. Therefore, I decided to move forward and complete the journey, in memory of my father, who raised me to love goodness and help others. I never regretted this decision because it meant a lot to me and was a humanitarian message I could not retreat from.
For me, the clock stopped since the sixteenth of last month. The ship’s crew and I imagined every moment the scene of Gazans standing on the shore waiting for aid, and we dreamed that this fleet would enter history by breaking the blockade that has been imposed for many years. It is true that Israel intercepted our ships and prevented us from reaching, but we felt that we achieved part of the goal. We conveyed a message to the world and stirred public opinion in many streets, making Gaza the compass and the title that can no longer be ignored.
Throughout the journey, the legal team trained us on how to deal with the occupation army in case of interception, and every step was calculated precisely. Therefore, when we were not surprised, we adhered to the movements and procedures we were trained on to protect ourselves and avoid any escalation. Ironically, the soldiers who boarded the ship seemed more frightened than us. They were so tense that they monitored every move we made, even a mere glance or look would arouse their suspicion. We felt then that our calm courage confused them more than any resistance.
Yes, we were subjected to physical and psychological assaults both on board and afterward. The soldiers raised their weapons in our faces, threatened us with death, and forced us to keep our hands up all the time. Although they knew after searching the ship that we were civilians and peaceful, they continued to label us as “terrorists” and claimed we were affiliated with Hamas, in an attempt to tarnish our humanitarian mission.
As for the prison, the treatment was very harsh. Activists were deprived of food, drink, and even their essential medicines. Approximately every two hours, we were summoned for investigation or subjected to torture by the soldiers. I remember one activist who suffered from a chronic illness, asked for his medication from his wallet, and the cold response was, “As long as your heart hasn’t stopped, you’re fine.” Women participants were also subjected to harassment, as some had their hijabs removed in front of everyone, and when one tried to cover her hair with her shirt, it was taken from her as well. These painful scenes show the true face of the occupation and confirm that our humanitarian mission was a necessity, not a choice.
Yes, I thought about this hypothesis before embarking on the experience. I was fully aware that the road to Gaza is not easy and that we might not return. But I always told myself that our lives are not more precious than the lives of the people of Gaza and their children who are killed every second; it was a humanitarian duty worth the risk. I was fully aware of the brutality and difficulty of facing it, yet I did not hesitate for a moment to sail. I believed that the message we carried was greater than fear and that just trying is a form of human resistance.
We should not wait for the opportunity to come; the Palestinian people are subjected to grave violations every day, and it is our duty to initiate and create opportunities instead of waiting. Launching a single fleet is a strong message, but what is required is for the message and initiatives to be repeated and for hundreds of fleets to set off from different countries towards Gaza, aiming to break the blockade and end the injustice and oppression imposed on civilians.
Participating in breaking the blockade on Gaza is not a passing event for us but a continuous commitment that requires international coordination and ongoing efforts to create popular and political pressure that translates into action on the ground.
