The flotilla making its way to the Gaza Strip departed from Turkey, Spain and Italy, and includes more than 100 ships and about 1,000 participants. The flotilla is currently in the Crete area and is expected to arrive in the region over the weekend, with the ships carrying civilians from dozens of countries. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that he is imposing sanctions on the campaign funding the flotilla (Global Sumud Flotilla the Second Mission). According to him, 'The flotilla is directly organized by Hamas in cooperation with international organizations, under the guise of a humanitarian aid flotilla.'