Approaching Gaza’s ‘red zone’: Shahidul Alam reports from Media Flotilla

Photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, the only Bangladeshi on board the Conscience -- the main ship of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's (FFC) Media Flotilla -- has reported that the vessels are now around 70 nautical miles from Gaza's "red zone", where the Israeli military has previously intercepted aid missions.

In a Facebook post this morning, Shahidul said the flotilla was proceeding towards Gaza despite the risks.

"We are on board the Conscience which is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Vessels of the Sumud flotilla, which also tried to break the siege of Palestine, have all been captured by the Israeli military. We are proceeding regardless," he wrote.

Shahidul said the Conscience carries mostly journalists and medical professionals -- two groups that have been "specifically targeted" during Israel's offensive in Gaza, he said.

"This is a statement by these two groups which challenges the illegality of these targeted killings and the illegal siege of Gaza," he added.

He noted that the flotilla had slowed its progress to allow smaller boats under the Thousand Madleens initiative to keep pace.

"The slower boats have now caught up with us," he said, adding that the team expects to reach the "red zone" early tomorrow morning.

The Media Flotilla comprises a large boat accompanied by 10 smaller vessels.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a global civil society initiative, aims to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, and deliver aid while raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in the region.