Politis described the powerful moment when the Greek vessels met with dozens of solidarity sailboats in the Aegean: “About a quarter of an hour ago, the six Greek ships met with the international fleet and there are 40 ships south of Crete that have entered the final stretch to sail for Gaza.” Despite the recent drone attacks against the flotilla, he said morale remained high and the crews were determined to continue.
“The time has come when no one can say they do not know what is happening, when no one can say they have work to do,” Politis declared. “The only job humanity has today, for anyone who considers themselves human, is to stop genocide. That is what distinguishes humans from beasts.”
He insisted that the mission was more than symbolic, arguing that the flotilla could pressure governments to act beyond rhetorical recognition of a Palestinian state. “We want to believe that this initiative can provide the impetus to save the Palestinian people,” he said, “and that we are saving the dignity of Western societies that do not take initiatives for the people of Palestine.”
Politis also commented on the recent decision by Italy and Spain to send naval vessels: “This is certainly a move that resulted from the pressure of the pro-Palestinian movement, but it does not mean that it will help the mission’s work. These ships are not sent to confront Israeli forces, only to rescue shipwrecked people. That does not solve the problem that continues to exist in Gaza.”
Legal and political critiques
Lawyer Anastasia Matsouka, a member of the flotilla’s international legal team, delivered sharp criticism of the Greek government. She condemned Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s remark that “the term ‘genocide’ is heavy,” saying: “If he finds the term heavy, it is not because genocide is not real.” She reminded the audience that the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, which Greece has failed to act upon.
Matsouka further denounced the Israeli Ministry of “Dissemination and Combating Anti-Semitism” for smearing the flotilla as an “accomplice of terrorist networks,” a label, she said, that the Greek government has not publicly rejected. On the drone attacks, she noted, “The perpetrators created specific risks for the ships and the physical integrity of the crews, even under the constant surveillance of the Greek coast guard.” She added that she was surprised no coast guard equipment was present to monitor or assist.
“The time has come for the government to choose,” she concluded. “Between its privileged allies in Israel, and the Greek men and women who are moving towards Gaza.”
Workers’ solidarity
George Gogos, president of the Union of Permanent and Probationary Port Workers of the Piraeus Port Authority, pledged unconditional support. He said unions and labour centres were preparing coordinated assistance for the flotilla in the event of another attack: “We commit that we will support the union initiatives that will be taken if the Israeli occupation forces attack our fellow citizens.”
Cultural voices
Actress and activist Dora Chrysikou closed the press conference with an impassioned speech. Recalling that one of the ships had been named after Pavlos Fyssas during this year’s anti-fascist September events, she said: “I am sure that if Pavlos were here, he would be on this ship.”
Chrysikou condemned political leaders “who once again stand on the wrong side of history, making shameful decisions and playing the game of the genocidal Netanyahu.” She urged people to resist normalisation of mass killing:
“We say no, we cannot watch a genocide unfold on live broadcast, indifferently. We say no, it is not acceptable for people to die of hunger imposed by Israel, or for it to become part of our daily news routine how many were killed while trying to get food or medicine. We say no, we do not want to live in a world where every concept of law has been dismantled.”
She ended with a call to collective action: “We are trying to assist in every effort, both in the flotilla and in the streets. The people will save the people. And as Vasilis Maggos once said: ‘Even if we never win, we will always fight.’ Free Palestine.”
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