As I land in Tunis, I am filled with admiration and respect for the South Africans I am about to meet.
They are participants of the Global Sail to Gaza later this week which I will be covering for The Debrief Network.
The largest global movement in history plans to set sail this week, in an attempt to break the siege in Gaza and open the corridors to humanitarian aid once and for all.
Just knowing that 9 civilians were killed on the Mavi Marmara in 2010, and the brutal way in which Israel intercepted both the Handala and Madleen flotillas earlier this year, leaves me astounded.
It takes courage to once again set sail into the territory of a country- Israel- that acts with total impunity for international law.
Hell, even the peaceful efforts of the Global March to Gaza in June was met with brutal force by Egyptian authorities. We reported on how participants were deported home like criminals.
As heart wrenching as the worsening situation is in Gaza, speaking to the organisers and participants show you that the world is no longer staying silent in the face of complicity.
From 54 year old Reeaz Moolla, a father leaving his family behind to fulfill his duty to humanity, to 22 year old Nurain Saloojee, a member of the PSA youth league, these participants have taken it upon themselves to show up for our collective humanity.
And then ofcourse, there are those working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this mission a success.
Basheerah Soomar, a South African who is part of the global organisers, is just one of the few people who have worked tirelessly for months to get this mission off the ground, quite literally.
There are lawyers, medics, financiers, engineers, captains and more who have selflessly given their time to do that the rest of us should be doing as human beings.
But, as we all can't be doers, I hope that we can give these heroes the send off and coverage they deserve as they sacrifice everything to break the siege on Gaza and let humanitarian aid and humanity itself in, once and for all.
We plan to track them, post their stories, share what they're doing and most of all, make their voices heard in the moments they may not be able to.
