Montreal doctor part of flotilla delivering aid to Gaza undeterred by Israeli interceptions

Montreal epidemiologist and former NDP candidate Nima Machouf is joining hundreds of activists on a flotilla heading to Gaza.

A Montreal doctor who is joining hundreds of activists in a flotilla headed to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid says she is “determined” to keep going despite some boats having already been intercepted by Israel.

The first few boats that are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla arrived near the coast of Gaza on Thursday, but Israeli navy soldiers stopped them and arrested the people on board.

Nimâ Machouf, an epidemiologist with the Université de Montréal, is not far behind, onboard the Conscience with a group of five other Canadians who are part of the international effort to bring medicine and food to Palestinians in Gaza.

Speaking to CTV News in a video interview from the boat on Thursday as it was passing by the Greek islands, she explained that their goal is to try to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip.

“Israel controls everything that goes in and doesn’t allow people to have the material that they need. So we, as humans, who are in solidarity with them, and we are so angry about what Israel [does], we are forced to put our lives in danger to try to go and break the siege,” Machouf said.

• READ MORE: Israeli navy intercepts boats attempting to break Gaza blockade and arrests activists, including Greta Thunberg

She says her group is about four days away from arriving in Gaza.

Machouf tells CTV News she agreed to join the flotilla knowing that being intercepted by Israeli forces was a possibility.

She says she believes enough international pressure could force the Israeli government to allow the aid to get in.

“None of us are armed. We are all nonviolent,” she added.

Israel has come under criticism for how little aid it lets into Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla includes doctors, artists, clergy, lawmakers, and others on board dozens of boats headed to the enclave ravaged by Israeli forces.

“Our efforts build on decades of Palestinian resistance and international solidarity. Though we belong to different nations, faiths and political beliefs, we are united by a single truth: the siege and genocide must end,” the group states on its website, which tracks their real-time locations as the boats approach the region.

Some of the activists have managed to live-stream the interceptions from their cellphones before communications were cut.

Their broadcasts showed Israeli boats approaching their vessels, spraying them with water canons and flashing bright lights before troops got on board.

Israel has dismissed the flotilla as a “provocation,” and denounced it as a stunt.

For Machouf, it’s the biggest civilian humanitarian action, aimed at bringing aid at a critical time in the 23-month war between Israel and Hamas that has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and led to spreading famine.

• Gaza City officially in famine, with hunger spreading, says global hunger monitor
• Israel calls on famine-stricken residents to flee and targets more high-rises in Gaza City

She denounced Israel’s actions against humanitarian work in the enclave, pointing to attacks that have killed journalists, doctors and other civilians.

“Why is Israel doing that much harm to the Palestinian population? How come our government supports them? It’s unbelievable. How come they support them? They have to … force Israel to stop this violation of all international laws,” she said.

A growing number of experts, including those commissioned by the United Nations, have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, which the Israeli government vehemently denies.

With files from CTV News’ Caroline Van Vlaardingen and The Associated Press.