A Lithuanian activist has joined Greta Thunberg and dozens of others attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea, in what the Associated Press describes as the largest flotilla challenge yet to Israel’s 18-year blockade.
Aleksandras Chichlovskis is on board one of the ships that set sail from Barcelona on Sunday carrying water, food and medical supplies.
“We are not against Jews or antisemitic – we are against Israel’s genocide,” Chichlovskis told LRT.lt on Monday by phone. “Some of us may not even have strong political views, it's just common sense – children are dying, people are starving, genocide is happening.”
His remarks come on the same day that the International Association of Genocide Scholars – a body representing 500 members – passed a resolution saying legal criteria had been met to define Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. Israel has rejected the accusation.
“The states are not stepping in, so the people must,” Chichlovskis said.
In August, the UN confirmed that famine is prevalent in Gaza, although Israel has blamed the delays in humanitarian aid on the Hamas movement.
Israeli right-wing media report that the flotilla includes members of groups considered terrorist in the US, Canada and Israel, and banned in Germany. Left-wing European politicians, including the Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau, are also joining the initiative.
Saif Abukeshek, a representative of the “Global Sumud Flotilla”, a coalition of pro-Palestinian groups, told Spanish public television that in the final leg of the journey, when participants from Italian and Tunisian ports join, the convoy is expected to number around 70 ships.
“There are so many of us. We hope at least some of us will make it into Gaza – maybe we will open a humanitarian corridor,” said Chichlovskis.
“If we’re lucky, humanitarian organisations like the Red Cross will take over those missions. They contacted us yesterday to offer help with a medical ship just in case,” Chichlovskis added. “We are activists; we’re not here to deliver humanitarian aid for life. We just want to open a corridor.”
LRT.lt could not independently verify information about Red Cross medical support.
There are no delegations from Lithuania or other Baltic states among the 44 countries listed. According to Chichlovskis, he is the only participant from Lithuania.
“I understand that Lithuania is deeply focused on its own security because of Russia, and I fully get that. But that doesn’t mean Gaza should be ignored,” he said.
Born in Vilnius and now living in the Netherlands, Chichlovskis has previously taken part in pro-Ukrainian and anti-war demonstrations and actions, including the 2022 attempt by so-called squatters to occupy sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s residence and hand it over to Ukrainian activists.
“In Lithuania, people don’t talk much about this because it isn’t widely reported. People are very focused on Russia, but you can’t oppose one war [in Ukraine] and ignore genocide elsewhere,” he said.
Back in 2010, a ship belonging to the flotilla organisers attempting to reach the Gaza Strip was intercepted by Israel, and during the clash, 10 activists were shot, sharply escalating tensions between Tel Aviv and Ankara.
“This time nobody should die – we have changed our tactics,” said Chichlovskis. “But some of us will probably end up in prison in Israel. If that happens, I'll most be deported back to Lithuania.”
Ships have also attempted to reach Gaza since Hamas launched its 2023 war. During an attempt in May this year, a drone struck one of their vessels in international waters, an attack the activists blamed on Israel.
In June, a widely publicised attempt to reach the Palestinian territory involved the well-known activist Greta Thunberg. Their ship was intercepted in international waters, and the activists were ultimately deported, though no one was seriously harmed. Thunberg is taking part in the flotilla again this time.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously dismissed the June attempt as a “selfie yacht” and criticised it as a public relations stunt.
Israeli media now report that national leaders discussed the flotilla over the weekend, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stating that the country will seize the vessels and detain activists under “terrorist conditions.”
“Those who choose to collaborate with Hamas and terrorist groups will face strict measures,” he said.
Activists hope to reach Gaza Strip by mid-September.
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