Activists who participate in a fleet that seeks break the block of Israel in Gaza He denounced on Wednesday that some of his ships were attacked by drones during the night while sailing south of Greece.
This is the Sumud Global Flotilla, which claimed to have been attacked during the night by “unidentified drones and interference in communications.” They also detailed that they heard “at least 13 explosions” in and around several ships of the flotilla.
Activists who wanted to break the Israeli block denounced attacks
The activists published a brief video in the social media account of the flotilla that showed what seemed to be An explosion in or near one of the vessels.
On the other hand, the Greece Coast Guard did not report any aid call while the Israel Defense Forces (FDI) Nor were they immediately answered to the questions about the attack.
Help came from Italywhich condemned the attack and activated a Navy frigate to be available in possible rescue operations, according to the Italian defense minister, Guido Crosetto.
The official said the FASAN FRAGATA OF THE ITALIAN MARINEwho sailed to northern Crete, “he already headed towards the area for possible rescue operations.”
“In a democracy, Manifestations and forms of protest must also be protected when they are carried out according to international law and without resorting to violence, “Crosetto said.
The spokeswoman of the European Commission Eva Hrncirova He said that “the freedom of navigation under international law must be respected (…) so that (..) No use of force against the flotilla is acceptable” as long as they respect “the humanitarian commitment” of the fleet.
Greta Thunberg believes that the attack is “an intimidation”
The Swedish activist Greta Thunberg He was aboard one of the ships and described the attacks as an “intimidation tactic.” He urged the followers of the flotilla to focus on Gaza instead of the activists who sail in the Mediterranean Sea.
“We were aware of the risks of this type of attack and that is not something that will stop us,” he said in a live broadcast on Wednesday morning.
An Italian activist in the flotilla, Simone Zambrinhe said that drones “have been flying over our heads for days” and Wednesday “launched devices to our ships, damaging both candles and The audition of some of our crew “.
“We expected it because it is a rhetoric that is part of what Israel is trying to do with respect to missions like ours,” said Zambrin and added that “he tries to instill fear because he fears our arrival.”
The flotilla, which according to the organizers gathers about 50 vessels And participants from dozens of countries, has a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, including food and medicines, for the Palestinians in Gaza.
He Israeli Foreign Ministry accused the organizers of having links with Hamas —A accusation that the organizers reject, “and says she proposed that activists download their help in the Israeli port of Ashkelon To be transported to Gaza.
“Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone And it will not allow the violation of a legal naval block, ”said the portfolio on Monday.”
Source: Ambito
