Turkey evacuates passengers as Gaza aid flotilla vessel malfunctions
Ankara has yet to publicly pledge direct support for the flotilla’s mission amid Israeli warnings despite increasing calls from Turkish activists and pro-Palestinian opposition parties.
ANKARA — A vessel in the international Gaza-bound aid flotilla was evacuated with Turkish coordination on Monday after it suffered an engine room leak.
Roughly 50 vessels make up the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian mission organized by the international pro-Palestinian activist network Freedom Flotilla Coalition. It was launched from Barcelona, Spain, in August in an effort by hundreds of activists from dozens of countries to deliver aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s blockade on the enclave.
One of the vessels, the Johnny M, encountered a leak in its engine room while sailing in the eastern Mediterranean early Monday, the organization announced on Instagram.
The passengers were evacuated with the coordination of Turkish authorities and the Turkish Red Crescent, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Videos circulated on social media showing two Turkish navy frigates dispatched to the area to coordinate the rescue efforts.
