All vessels approaching Gaza together after regrouping in middle of sea: Shahidul Alam

Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam has said the vessel Conscience, a participant of Gaza-bound vessels under the global initiative Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousands Madleens to Gaza (TMTG), is now approaching together to Gaza together with other boats in the initiative.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the noted photographer wrote that they started approaching together after regrouping in the middle of the sea to display the sense of solidarity among the boats. He also described the move as ‘remarkable’ and ‘people power in action’.

The Conscience had initially sped past several vessels but later slowed down to join them in a coordinated move towards Gaza, he wrote.

Referring to Thousand Madleens initiative, Shahidul Alam said, “Thousand Madleens was a remarkable concept. In the face of total inaction and hypocrisy by world leaders in preventing a genocide, the people of the world have decided to take action themselves. The idea of a thousand ships is symbolic, but it has certainly been the largest fleet of seagoing vessels to unite in this manner.”

Conscience, the largest vessel to participate in this movement, was the last to start. It set off on September 30 from Otranto in Italy, and by the October 2, the earlier vessels of Sumud Flotilla had been intercepted by the Israeli forces.