French actress Adèle Haenel to join Gaza aid flotilla

Tunis, Tunisia – Renowned French actress Adèle Haenel has announced that she is joining the Global Freedom Flotilla, a humanitarian mission aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza and delivering urgent aid to Palestinians.

Speaking to AFP, Haenel said: “At this historic moment, I have decided to join the Global Freedom Flotilla as a human mission, to send a message to the besieged people of Gaza that humanity is still alive.”

The flotilla, delayed earlier due to bad weather and logistical issues, is now set to depart from Tunisia on Sunday. Activists from Tunisia will join other vessels at sea as part of the international convoy.

Haenel emphasized that the primary goal is to deliver food and medical supplies to Gaza, where the UN has already declared famine conditions. She accused Israel of deliberately creating a humanitarian disaster through its ongoing siege.

The French actress, best known for Portrait of a Lady on Fire, arrived in Tunisia on Sunday and completed a two-day training program to prepare for the voyage.

The Global Freedom Flotilla includes activists from over 20 countries. Participants include:

• Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg

• Members of the European Parliament

• More than 100 international activists

The convoy aims to reach Gaza by mid-September, but previous flotilla missions in June and July were intercepted by Israeli forces.

Haenel has been vocal about social justice issues. In 2020, she walked out of the César Awards after director Roman Polanski won Best Director despite multiple assault allegations. Since then, she has stepped back from cinema to focus on activism.

The mission comes as Gaza faces one of its worst humanitarian crises following the war that escalated after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. The United Nations has warned that over 500,000 people are living under catastrophic famine conditions.

“We are united in our peaceful demand to open a humanitarian corridor and break the illegal siege imposed by Israel,” Haenel said before departure.