Comedian is on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail on August 31 from Spain and is made up of more than 50 boats heading towards Gaza
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail on August 31 from Spain, is made up of more than 50 boats heading towards Gaza in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade and deliver supplies to Palestinians.
Among the hundreds of activists on board are Greta Thunberg and Cork’s Tadhg Hickey.
The boat Mr Hickey is aboard, Alma, was subject to a drone attack off the coast of Tunisia at around 11.30pm on Tuesday night, just after the Corkman had finished night duty on the vessel.
“The police have been on the boat investigating. There were no casualties, thankfully. There are 24 of us on our boat, it’s one of the three main, larger motherships. It was a bit scary,” he told the Sunday Independent.
“My main issue is our communication system, if it is strong enough. Because I would hate for my partner, my children, my sister and other family to hear about what happened on social media, rather than from me directly. It wasn’t a sophisticated drone device. I’m guessing it came from Tunisia, rather than Israel. It probably wasn’t designed to cause mass casualties but instead to dissuade us from going any further.
“There are a lot of dedicated human rights activists on this boat. But if you were new to this, I can see how it might make you want to go home. I’ll stay the course. I’d love to go home and see my kids.
“It’s not much fun dodging drone attacks off the coast of Tunisia. But there are parents in Gaza who love their kids too. Hopefully I’m sending a message to my children that their lives are worth the same as these kids in Gaza. Solidarity can be painful and uncomfortable.”
Tadhg Hickey. Photo: Steve Humphreys
The father-of-three said his loved ones are “worried” about him but that those closest to him, including his long-term partner, remain entirely supportive of his involvement in the mission.
“All we are trying to do is bring humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, who are suffering a genocide and man-made famine. The drone attack was a scare tactic. We can’t give in to bullies.
“By the time we hopefully reach Gaza, if we are not intercepted before then, there should be around 70 boats in our fleet, in convoy. Some more boats may be joining us from Sicily and Greece.
“The purpose is to create a humanitarian corridor, a conveyer belt of aid. We can only fit a certain amount of supplies on the boats, a lot of it is baby formula for the starving babies. We know it won’t end the man-made famine but we’re hoping it will lead to the beginning of a proper flow of aid and supplies into Gaza from the rest of the world,” he said.
Greta Thunberg is also on board the boat. Photo: Getty
The Corkman said that there is “huge camaraderie” between all of the activists on his boat. Mr Hickey took part in training in Barcelona in late August, for a few days, in preparation for how to deal with their boat being overtaken in international waters to halt its progress to Gaza.
He is “optimistic” that they will successfully reach Gaza and deliver the aid supplies in a pre-arranged handover.
However, he said he’s “prepared” to be arrested and taken to jail should the Israeli army or police intercept the flotilla.
“I’m an optimist, I believe we will break the siege. I’m focused on getting the aid there. I believe we will be successful and the fact there are so many boats, up to 70 hopefully, helps our mission.
But if we are stopped and I’m taken to prison, I would hope that my Government would kick in. I’m not a terrorist, I’m a comedian from Cork.”
It is expected that the flotilla should reach Gaza in around a week’s time.