French actress Adele Haenel embarks on the Global Sumud voyage to Gaza from Tunisia

French actress Adele Haenel is set to embark on a bold humanitarian mission, sailing for the Gaza Strip from Tunisia aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. The flotilla, scheduled to reach Gaza mid-September, aims to deliver much-needed aid to the territory.

Haenel, who made her mark on the French film world by storming out of the 45th Cesar Awards ceremony in 2020, announced her retirement from the world of film in 2023 for political reasons. In her retirement letter, published in French magazine Télérama, she denounced the "general complacency" of the film industry towards sexual aggressors.

Haenel is not alone in this mission. European elected officials like Emma Fourreau and Ada Colau are also on board the flotilla. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Portuguese politician Mariana Mortágua, Berlin-based activist Yasemin Acar, former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, and jurist Melanie Schweizer from the DiEM25 party are among the other participants. In total, more than a hundred people from 44 countries are expected to embark from Tunisia on Sunday.

The flotilla's departure was initially planned for an earlier date, but weather conditions and delays affecting the flotilla that left Barcelona led to a postponement.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has announced that people in the Gaza Strip are officially facing a man-made famine in the territory. Two previous attempts to deliver aid were blocked by Israel in June and July.

Haenel has denounced that the people of Gaza are suffering from a famine deliberately orchestrated by the Israeli government. Multiple UN human rights experts have stated that Israel's military actions in Gaza amount to genocide. The International Court of Justice found claims of genocide in Israel's actions plausible. However, Israel has rejected these genocide accusations, maintaining that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence.

Haenel, who had previously shared that she had been abused by director Christophe Ruggia between the ages of 12 and 15, has been vocal about her political beliefs. Her retirement from cinema is politicized to denounce the film industry's collaboration with the "mortal, ecocidal, racist order of the world".

This humanitarian mission is a testament to Haenel's commitment to standing up for those who are suffering and using her platform to bring attention to important issues. As she sets sail for Gaza, the world watches with anticipation and hope.

French actress Adele Haenel embarks on the Global Sumud voyage to Gaza from Tunisia