Oil Embargo: 'Against the Criminal Blockade' – Gaza activists with aid supplies en route to Cuba

Pro-Palestinian activists who were already on ships heading toward Gaza with Greta Thunberg are now aiming to bring aid supplies to Cuba.

“Pro-Palestinian activists who were already on ships heading toward Gaza with Greta Thunberg are now aiming to bring aid supplies to Cuba”

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Mexico is also seeking ways to deliver fuel to the country.

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Ships carrying aid left Mexico toward Cuba on Friday (local time).

The action is organized by the civil-society initiative 'Nuestra América', according to the Mexican newspaper La Jornada.

On board a ship that set sail from the Yucatán Peninsula, activists say there are 30 tons of aid, including medicines and food, as well as solar panels.

Two additional smaller ships departed from Isla Mujeres toward Cuba.

The supply situation in Cuba is currently dire.

The economy is suffering mainly from the oil embargo imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year.

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Last week there were protests in various Cuban cities against the poor supply situation.

Also on board is Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, who had also participated in the 'Global Sumud' flotilla to Gaza, as announced at a press conference.

“Pro-Palestinian activists who were already on ships heading toward Gaza with Greta Thunberg are now aiming to bring aid supplies to Cuba”

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The aim of the solidarity convoy is for Cuba to maintain 'hope and resilience against the criminal blockade' imposed by the U.S. government.

Thiago Ávila had become known when, in June 2025, he wanted to travel to Gaza with Greta Thunberg on the 'Madleen'—also allegedly to bring aid supplies there.

In international waters it was, however, intercepted by the Israeli military.

While the activists spoke of a kidnapping, Israel justified the action as enforcing its sea blockade.

Ávila reportedly went on a hunger strike for a time and was briefly kept in solitary confinement before he was finally deported to Brazil.

Also on Friday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced another aid shipment by the navy to support the Cuban population.

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In total, the Mexican government has shipped around 3,000 tons of aid to Cuba since February.

Additionally, Mexico continues to seek ways to 'how we can deliver fuel to the Cubans without it having negative effects on Mexico,' Sheinbaum emphasized.

The island has not imported oil since January 9.

On that day the last delivery from Mexico took place before the country, under pressure from Trump, halted its fuel deliveries to Cuba.

Cuba does have its own oil industry as one of the few Caribbean countries, but it only produces about 40 percent of its own demand.