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Turkiye helps rescue Gaza aid activists after ship breaks down
Turkiye helped evacuate activists on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla after one of the vessels broke down and began taking on water, organisers and Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu reported.
In a statement on Instagram, the Global Sumud Flotilla organisers said the mission was temporarily halted after Johnny M sustained a leak in its engine room.
“All participants have been safely transferred to another vessel. Some will be reassigned to other ships, while others will be brought ashore,” the statement said.
According to Anadolu, the vessel was located in international waters between Crete, Cyprus and Egypt when it issued a distress call early on Monday. Turkish authorities, including the Turkish Red Crescent, coordinated the evacuation effort.
Semih Fener, the captain of one of the ships dispatched to assist, told Anadolu the incident was due to a technical malfunction, not sinking. “We picked up 12 people and distributed them to other ships. Four people will return home,” he said, adding that the evacuees would travel to their respective countries via Turkiye.
Global Sumud Flotilla set to reach Gaza in four days despite technical issues
The international aid flotilla is expected to reach Gaza “in as close as 4 days”, the group says on Telegram, despite one of its vessels having a leak in the engine room. Volunteers aboard the Johnny M were transferred to other vessels while others were brought to shore with the assistance of the Red Cross.
“This will not cause significant delays to the mission,” the group said.
According to the organisation’s trackers, 47 vessels are currently sailing towards Gaza with the objective of breaking Israel’s siege and delivering desperately needed humanitarian aid.
