The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) continues its journey to Gaza to break the siege on the territory in defiance of the Israeli regime’s threats to target its vessel, the Madleen.
The Madleen ship departed from Italy on Sunday, carrying food, medical supplies, and baby items bound for Gaza.
Israel warned Wednesday that it was “prepared” to “act accordingly” to stop the FFC from reaching Gaza.
Meanwhile, the FFC reported that a drone initially approached and circled the ship south of Crete, Greece, on Wednesday night, with two additional drones joining shortly afterwards.
“These actions raise serious concerns about whether Greece and/or the European Union is conducting surveillance on behalf of Israel,” it said in a statement.
Yasemin Acar, a member onboard the ship, said, “We call on people of conscience, institutions, and governments to take action now: demand that Israel refrain from attacking the Madleen and defend life and dignity in Gaza.”
The vessel, carrying a 12-member team that includes environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, is scheduled to arrive in Gaza by June 7.
On Monday, the UN called for the protection of the ship operated by the FFC, adding, “Israel should remember that the world is watching closely and refrain from any act of hostility against the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and its passengers.”
This marks the FFC’s second attempt to deliver vital aid to Gaza since May, after Israeli drones attacked their previous vessel, the Conscience, in international waters near Malta.
The Conscience was attacked by two Israeli military drones, which set it ablaze and caused significant hull damage. The FFC condemned the attack as a “deliberate act of aggression and intimidation.”
The FFC is a global, grassroots solidarity movement that came into being in 2010. Comprised of various campaigns and initiatives, it collaborates to bring an end to Israel’s unlawful blockade of Gaza amid the ongoing genocidal war, operating on a people-to-people basis.
Since March 2, the Israeli regime has barred all aid trucks from entering Gaza, deliberately subjecting the 2.3 million civilians to starvation for over 90 days.
Israel has been criticized for using engineered starvation as a tool of war, bringing the entire civilian population to the edge of famine.
