Turkey helps evacuate activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla after one of the vessels broke down and began taking on water, organizers and Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu report.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which includes Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg among its participants, departed from Barcelona earlier this month aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver symbolic aid to the Strip.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the flotilla organizers says the mission was temporarily halted after one of the ships, 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 says.
According to Anadolu, the vessel was located in international waters between Crete, Cyprus and Egypt when it issued a distress call early this morning.
Turkish authorities, including the Turkish Red Crescent, coordinated the evacuation effort.
Semih Fener, the captain of one of the ships dispatched to assist, tells Anadolu the incident was due to a technical malfunction, not a sinking.
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