Fierce Mediterranean winds on Monday forced a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, including Greta Thunberg, to return to Barcelona. The Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of around 20 boats, is expected to arrive in Gaza in mid-September.

Fierce Mediterranean winds forced aGaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, including environmental campaignerGreta Thunberg, to return to Barcelona, organisers said on Monday.

Around 20 vessels left the Spanish city on Sunday aiming to "open a humanitarian corridor and end the ongoinggenocideof the Palestinian people" amid the Israel-Hamaswar, said the Global Sumud Flotilla sumud being the Arabic term for "resilience".

But "due to unsafe weather conditions, we conducted a seatrialand then returned to port to allow the storm to pass," the organisation said in a statement, without specifying when exactly the boats returned toBarcelona.

"This meant delaying our departure to avoid risking complications with the smaller boats," it added, citing gusts that exceeded 55 kilometres (34 miles) per hour.

"We made this decision to prioritize the safety and well-being of all participants and to safeguard the success of our mission."

Spanish media reported that the organisers would meet to decide whether to resume the expedition later on Monday.

Among theactivistsfrom dozens of countries were Thunberg, actors Liam Cunningham ofIrelandand Eduard Fernandez ofSpain, as well as European lawmakers and public figures, including former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.

The flotilla is expected to arrive in Gaza in mid-September and comes afterIsraelblocked two activist attempts to deliver aid to the devastated Palestinian territory by ship in June and July.

Read moreIsraeli forces intercept Gaza-bound aid flotilla with Greta Thunberg in overnight raid

The United Nations has declared a famine in Gaza, warning that 500,000 people face "catastrophic" conditions.

Thewarwas triggered by an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel by Palestinian militant groupHamason October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of 1,219 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.

Palestinian militants also seized 251hostages, with 47 still held in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 63,459 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to figures from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry which theUNconsiders reliable.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Originally published on France24