United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Thameen al-Kheetan has called on the Zionist entity's authorities to remove all restrictions affecting basic necessities of life and allow humanitarian assistance to reach Gaza, in comments regarding the launch of the Global Steadfastness Flotilla.

The remarks were delivered during a briefing at the weekly press conference of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Responding to a question from Anadolu Agency about the flotilla’s renewed departure from Italy to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, and about activists who were intercepted last year after Zionist enemy forces stopped their vessels, Al-Kheetan said that “Israel, as the occupying power in Gaza, is obligated to meet all the basic needs of Palestinians in the territory and ensure the lifting of all restrictions imposed on the entry and flow of humanitarian aid.”

He added that conditions in Gaza remain extremely dangerous, pointing to severe shortages of clean drinking water, food, cooking gas, and many other essential needs.

On Sunday, the “Spring Mission 2026” of the Global Steadfastness Flotilla sailed from the Italian island of Sicily after completing final preparations. The initiative aims to break the Israeli enemy blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the enclave.

The Global Steadfastness Flotilla is a civil initiative established in 2025 by representatives of civil society organizations, activists, and volunteers from various countries with the objective of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.

After departing from Barcelona on April 12, the flotilla’s vessels arrived in Sicily on April 23, where additional ships and activists from Italy later joined through the cities of Syracuse and Augusta.

This marks the second mission of the Global Steadfastness Flotilla following its September 2025 attempt, which ended with a Zionist enemy attack on the ships in October of the same year while sailing in international waters, along with the detention of hundreds of international activists on board before deportation proceedings began.

On October 8, 2023, the Zionist enemy launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip with American support, during which more than 72,000 Palestinians were killed and more than 172,000 others were injured.

Despite the ceasefire agreement remaining in effect since October 2025, living conditions for Palestinians in Gaza have not seen significant improvement amid the Zionist enemy's failure to fulfill its security and humanitarian commitments under the agreement.