SHOTLIST:

- BARCELONA, SPAIN (AUGUST 31, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1. SOUNDBITE (English) IRISH ACTOR LIAM CUNNINGHAM SAYING:

"Because I'm a human being and I don't want to see human beings being treated the way the Palestinians are treated. Also because I'm Irish and the British used similar methods on the people of my country over an 800 year occupation. So what the Palestinians are going through is much shorter than what the Irish went through as regards time frame. But the killing at the moment is much more efficient to use that horrific word. And this is an attempt to break the blockade, break this medieval siege. It's like something from 500 years ago on a castle and I think people forget that. And also to bring attention to the cowardice of the EU, the sinister behavior of various countries talking out of both sides of their mouth saying, "Oh, isn't it terrible? We're delivering arms to kill Palestinians." It's like I've landed in some weird strange world that I don't recognize and the cowardice of politicians makes me nauseous. You've only to look along here to see the crowds here. This is much bigger than I think the people involved in the flotilla expected. I mean the crowds here are enormous and this flotilla is enormous. This is only a portion, it goes all the way down there and actually between the background all the way down there. The boats have been loaded up now and I think you'll be able to film that and see exactly what's going on just in case anybody thinks it's something else. This is humanitarian aid, medical aid and baby formula. I think there's some prosthetic limbs for children and it's a tiny amount of what Gaza needs."
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 31: Renowned Irish actor Liam Cunningham said on Sunday, Aug. 31, that as an Irishman, he sees similarities in the suffering of Palestinians, which is shorter in duration than Ireland's under British occupation, but the current killing is far more efficient.

Cunningham, who has joined an international flotilla aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge the blockade, called Israel’s siege “medieval” and urged the world to speak out.

Cunningham, best known for his role in the TV series Game of Thrones, is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla – a civilian mission involving more than 300 people from over 44 countries – which originally departed from Barcelona on Sunday in a bid to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian supplies.

"I'm a human being and I don't want to see human beings being treated the way the Palestinians are treated. Also because I'm Irish and the British used similar methods on the people of my country over an 800 year occupation. So what the Palestinians are going through is much shorter than what the Irish went through as regards time frame. But the killing at the moment is much more efficient to use that horrific word," he told Anadolu before the flotilla set sail.

The actor, who also appeared in the films Titanic, The Mummy and The Irishman, said: “This is an attempt to break the blockade, break this medieval siege. It's like something from 500 years ago in a castle.”

Cunningham also denounced what he described as the political cowardice surrounding Gaza.

"It's like I've landed in some weird, strange world that I don't recognize and the cowardice of politicians makes me nauseous,” he said.

He explained that the flotilla heading to Gaza – with more than 20 ships departing from Barcelona and plans to meet up with additional vessels in Italy and Tunisia – was considerably larger than expected.

Although there are differing opinions about the mission, he said the vessels are carrying only humanitarian supplies.

“This is humanitarian aid, medical aid and baby formula. I think there's some prosthetic limbs for children, and it's a tiny amount of what Gaza needs,” he said.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg, Spanish actor Eduardo Fernandez, and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau are also among those participating in the mission.

The international aid flotilla departed Sunday from Barcelona. However, due to strong winds, it returned to port on Monday. Organizers say it will delay departure until unsafe weather conditions pass.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, named after the Arabic word for “steadfastness,” includes doctors, journalists, artists and politicians among its passengers.