Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, reported that several of their vessels faced attacks from drones while sailing from Greece. The flotilla experienced over a dozen explosions, linked to “unidentified objects” that were dropped onto their boats.
Franek Sterczewski, a Polish lawmaker aboard one of the ships, shared on social media that there were 13 separate drone attacks affecting a total of ten vessels, resulting in damage to three of the ships. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation faced by the activists.
Yasemin Acar, a German human rights activist also part of the flotilla, reiterated their mission through a video on Instagram. She insisted that their endeavor was purely humanitarian, stating, “We have no weapons. We pose no threat to anyone.” Acar accused Israel of causing widespread suffering in Gaza, highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis as thousands face death and starvation due to ongoing conflicts.
In her earlier video, Acar reported spotting between 15 to 16 drones and noted that their communications were disrupted by loud music, which further complicated their ability to coordinate.
The flotilla’s official Instagram account shared footage of an explosion purportedly captured by the vessel Spectre. In response to the situation, the Greek coastguard dispatched a Frontex patrol boat to the area after receiving reports of the incidents. They later announced that upon inspection, there was no evidence of damage to the vessels involved and that the coastguard could not verify whether the situation unfolded in international waters.
Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, also on board, described how four boats had been targeted moments before explosions were recorded.
The Global Sumud Flotilla embarked from Barcelona with the intention of breaching Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Comprising 51 vessels, most are currently positioned near the Greek island of Crete. Previously, some ships waiting to join the flotilla were allegedly hit by drone attacks while in Tunisia, where they were joined by notable figures, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Israel reaffirmed its commitment to preventing the flotilla from reaching Gaza, stating it would not permit the aid mission to succeed. This announcement comes in the wake of significant international pressure on Israel to cease its military operations in Gaza, especially as humanitarian conditions deteriorate amid ongoing conflicts.
