*“This is the way to show Israel that it shouldn’t have the right to impose starvation and, of course, to send the message of solidarity to the Palestinians, who suffer so much,” Kostas Fourikos, a 39-year-old crew member, told the AFP news agency on Sunday.

Another crew member, Angeliki Savvantoglou, said the flotilla aimed to “put pressure on our own governments to also stop collaborating with Israel and stop this genocide”.

Savvantoglou said crew members are aware of the risks their journey brings but that it’s important to continue.*