A BRITISH volunteer taking part in a historic aid mission to Gaza has said she feels "ashamed" to be from the UK amid its role in the ongoing genocide.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is the largest mission of its kind, with hundreds of activists from 44 different countries – including the UK – aiming to sail to Gaza to deliver much-needed aid amid the ongoing genocide.
Sarah Wilkinson, a prominent pro-Palestine activist in the UK, is travelling onboard the MiaMia vessel. The ship set sail from Tunisia just days ago and is currently nearing the Sicilian coast, where it will join another group of boats before the flotilla continues to Gaza.
The flotilla's tracker page currently shows 48 different boats taking part, with another delegation from Greece also on its way to join the flotilla en route to Gaza.
Wilkinson spoke to The National from the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, where she described being surrounded by an "enormous" formation of around 20 ships.
"There's boats to the front of me, the back, the left, the right, and some of them are out of vision. They're just too far off the horizon to see them," Wilkinson said.
"I'm surrounded by so many boats, so many world flags – so many really good, decent human beings who want to help. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Wilkinson's boat, the MiaMia, is carrying 10 people on board – eight men and two women. Wilkinson is the only English speaker on board, with the rest of her crewmates speaking French, Arabic and Spanish.
"We have to bond really well because we're very short of bedding space, the toilets are the size of a thimble, and we've all got to learn how to share," Wilkinson said.
The crew have shared duties between them, such as cooking, cleaning and fishing, with spirits "remaining high".
Wilkinson said: "We're all very aware that it's a terrible situation out there, but as far as us bonding on the ship and getting to know each other – knowing where we're meant to be, what we're meant to do and how not to panic, how to recognise when somebody needs help – I think we've got that in the can."
Despite the language barrier, Wilkinson has "learned how to communicate in other ways".
"We're doing our best, and somehow that's made us bond more," she said.
"There is a little bit of a challenge with the language, so you've got to find a way of getting along. Considering this is a very small boat, I think we're doing brilliantly – we'll be mentally quite strong by the time we face something more challenging."
There is a real threat of the flotilla's vessels being attacked or intercepted by Israeli forces.
Two previous flotilla missions – the Madleen and the Handala – were intercepted by Israeli forces earlier this year, with the activists on board detained and eventually deported by Israel.
And before the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail, two of its vessels were reported to have been "attacked by drones" while docked in Tunisia. There were no reported injuries as a result of the incidents, which caused fires to break out onboard the Alma and Family ships.
Meanwhile, far-right Israeli national security minister Ben Gvir has already threatened to seize the flotilla's boats and treat the volunteers on board as "terrorists".
Wilkinson said she had undergone a lot of training with the Global Sumud Flotilla to prepare volunteers to deal with a range of threats.
She told The National: "There's always trepidation when you know that you're sailing towards what could be a very challenging situation.
"Sometimes you feel nervous, sometimes you remember where you're going – and then you remember that the Palestinian people have been facing bombs and bullets for 77 years, possibly longer than that.
"In comparison, this is nothing."
Wilkinson said she felt it was a "duty" rather than a "decision" to get involved with the Global Sumud Flotilla.
"The decision was out of my hands. After years of protesting, writing to MPs, doing direct action, being arrested and winning court cases, I just felt we were getting nowhere. No one was listening," she told The National.
"This genocide has been allowed to get completely out of control and in 2025, I don't see how a society can call themselves civilised when we allow this to happen. People are crying out for help because they are being bombed and starved and maimed to death. If that doesn't make human beings want to respond to the call, then we're truly lost as a planet."
Wilkinson's comments come as 16 governments from around the world – Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain and Turkey – signed a joint declaration calling for the safe passage of the Sumud flotilla to Gaza.
The UK Government did not sign the declaration, having previously refused to offer protection to the British civilians taking part in the historic mission.
Wilkinson added: "The British Government have declared that they're not going to support any British citizen that might be taken into Israeli custody. That in itself is a reason for us to be here – that our Government is so remiss when it comes to human rights and compassion for its own citizens, let alone the Palestinian people.
Wilkinson said the UK Government "should be ashamed of itself".
She said: "If it can't look after its own citizens, then it can't look after any other citizens of the world.
"I'm really ashamed to come from there and I'm really ashamed of all the countries that have helped to facilitate this genocide and to allow the starvation campaign to continue for as long as it has."
Wilkinson continued: "To be among so many ships full of so many people who are the humanitarians, who are the people who care, is an honour.
"These ships should each go straight into their governments and go into power. Every single person on board these ships should be an MP when they get home – because this is where humanity is, not the Government."
