Before embarking on, the Portuguese activist Miguel Duarte participated in rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea aboard the IUVENTA ships or Watch. He was, in fact, one of the people investigated by Italy for his supposed complicity with “illegal immigration.” Duarte, like the others, only saved lives, and thus was demonstrated. This Tuesday, at dawn, the Portuguese activist was one of the people who stayed on the family ship. “I heard and saw a drone three or four meters above my head. The drone moved quickly to the front of the ship and in a matter of seconds dropped a bomb. The bomb exploded and caused a great fire on the ship. It was a shameful attack, but fortunately we are all fine, “Duarte said this morning during a press conference against the Tunisian Municipal Theater.
The organization of the Global Sumud Flotilla has summoned the media to explain the attack suffered last night by the ship in which they travel, among other people, activist Greta Thunberg or the former mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau. Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, a member in addition to the Steering Committee of this mission, explained that A total of 37 ships of different floats have suffered attacks since Israel established the blockade of Gaza. “This is the ship number 38”he said. “We know that there is a risk, but it is nothing compared to the risk suffered by the Palestinians every day. […] They [Israel] They have drones, weapons, but we have everything else. We have the story of our side. We have the international law on our side“Avila said before ensuring that, despite the threats, they will continue, as has also confirmed another spokesman, Saif Abukeshek.
Who was also present at the press conference has been the United Nations special rapporteur for the Palestinian occupied territories, Francesca Albanese, who moved these days to Tunisia to support the work of the flotilla. Albanese, who last night denounced the attack, has asked all activists to “Stay with determination in their attempt to get to Gaza and break the blockade”. “I trust you will do it. If not tomorrow, it will be the day after tomorrow,” he said.
Tonight, the organization of the flotilla published several videos in which you can see how An artifact falls, clashes with the bow of the ship, explodes and turns on a flare “near a diesel tank”. On board the family, in addition to Miguel Duarte, there were five other people. “If it is confirmed that it is a drone, it will have been an attack and an aggression against Tunisia and its sovereignty,” said Francesca Albanese. Yes ok From the Global Sumud Flotilla confirm “100%” that it was a dronethe Tunisian authorities denied the attack a few hours after. Although in one of the videos you see how something falls from the sky, the police defended that it was “a fire.”
The attack occurred while the boats of the flotilla that left Barcelona remain in Tunisia waiting to join other ships from Greece or Italy and then leave together to Gaza. It also took place a few days after the organization reported The presence of drones on the ships when they were just 90 nautical miles from the island of Menorca.
Since 2008, just a year after implementing the blockade of gaza by land, sea and air, Israel has not allowed the entry into Palestine of any ship with humanitarian aid. Many of them, as they have denounced this morning, were attacked, if not intercepted. In 2010, the Israeli army assaulted the Fleeta de la Libertad and murdered a dozen activists from the Mavi Marmara ship. Fifteen years later, nothing has changed. The Government of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, continues to send elite equipment of the military forces to prevent the arrival of more ships. In May, the Conscience flotilla was attacked by drones and, in June and July, the Madleen and the Handala were also first beaten by drones, then assaulted while navigating international waters and their crew, arrested and then deported.
A few days ago, the Israel government threatened all members of the Global Sumud Flotilla and warned them that . Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has proposed a plan according to which activists that are arrested will be sent to Ketziot and Damon prisons in “prolonged arrests.” In addition, Ben-Gvir has threatened to confiscate all the ships that participate in the flotilla, more than 40, as happened on previous occasions. This time, the Israel Executive intends to reuse ships for the army.
