The Turkish authorities evacuated GSF activists after a mechanical failure. The fleet is plagued by drone attacks and continue to effort to break through the Gaza band blockade.
On Monday, the Turkish authorities helped with the evacuation of activists after a breakdown on one of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF). Activists seek to transport humanitarian aid for residents in the Palestinian Gaza Palestation and to break the Israeli blockade of this coastal enclave lasting since 2007. TASR reports according to AFP report.
In a statement published on Instagram, the organizers said that the mission was temporarily suspended after they recorded a malfunction in the engine room on one of the ships. “All participants were safely taken to another vessel. Some will be redistributed to other ships and others will be transported ashore,” they wrote.
According to the Turkish agency Anadol, the ship was in the international waters between Crete, Cyprus and Egypt at the time of the emergency signal. The evacuation operation was coordinated by the Turkish organs and the Turkish Red Crescent.
Drones attacked the fleet
Last week, GSF announced that it had been the target of drone attacks that dropped grenades and itching powder on the ships. The fleet was accused by Israel. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond directly to the accusation, but addressed a fleet call to unload humanitarian aid in the Israeli port and leave the Israeli authorities to bring it to the Gaza Strip. The ministry warned the fleet that if he did not do so, it would be the consequences. Italy has already sent two war ships to protect activists.
A member of the crew of one of the GSF fleet is also a Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. The fleet sailed from Barcelona earlier this month. Overall, it consists of 51 ships.
