Tunisian security source: There is no obstruction to the launch of the "Flotilla of Steadfastness".

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Gulf - Follow-ups: A Tunisian security source denied that the authorities were obstructing the departure of the "Steadfastness Flotilla," which carries aid for the residents of the Gaza Strip. The source said that "the authorities did not prevent the departure of the Steadfastness Flotilla towards the Gaza Strip, and what happened was that there were dilapidated ships and others that were not ready, and they were excluded, nothing more." He added that "the weather conditions have not been suitable for the flotilla to sail in recent days, but our expectations are that it will sail this evening (Saturday) from the ports of Bizerte, Sidi Bou Said, and the suburb of Gammarth," noting that "only two ships have been excluded by us." He pointed out that "the flotilla now includes about 23 ships that will sail from the aforementioned ports, and we have no intention of obstructing them." The flotilla's committee held a press conference on Friday evening, during which it strongly criticized the "repeated postponement of the flotilla's launch." Ghassan Al-Hanchiri, a member of the "Global Steadfastness Flotilla to Break the Siege on Gaza" committee, revealed that "logistical preparations have been almost fully completed for the flotilla's launch." The flotilla's committee had postponed its departure on many occasions due to bad weather, which sparked controversy in Tunisia about whether it would actually set off for Gaza. Al-Hanchiri expressed his surprise at the "complication of procedures aimed at launching the flotilla," while the security source who spoke confirmed that "the procedures were flexible and all aimed at protecting the flotilla's crew, nothing more." Al-Hanchiri explained that "the main goal of the initiative remains to deliver humanitarian aid and food to Gaza and to express rejection of the siege imposed on its residents." It is worth noting that the "Global Steadfastness Flotilla" was previously subjected to a "premeditated attack," according to the Tunisian Ministry of Interior, where a fire broke out on a ship that was docked in the port of Sidi Bou Said. The ministry confirmed that it is "in the process of conducting all investigations and research to reveal all the facts to the international public regarding who planned, conspired, and executed," according to a statement issued by it.