On board the Freedom Flotilla

A flotilla of aid ships left a port in Cyprus on Sunday afternoon bound for the Gaza Strip.

A total of six ships were expected to set sail carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists destined for Gaza in defiance of an Israeli embargo on the Palestinian territory.

The flotilla from Turkey, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Greece, Kuwait and Algeria is carrying roughly 10,000 tonnes of aid, including cement, water-purification systems and wheelchairs.

Al Jazeera’s Jamal El-shayyal spent 24 hours on board the Mavi Marmara – the lead ship in the Freedom Flotilla.

In this video blog, he looks at what is on board and how the 600 passengers are coping with what is already proving to be a difficult mission.