In an incident that reflects the extent of determination and despair at the same time, the Greek island of Kos recorded an unusual arrival of Palestinian refugees, as a father and his son from the city of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip managed to cross the Aegean Sea by swimming. According to human rights reports, the two men covered a distance of about 8 kilometers in open sea waters, defying the high risks involved in this sea route, which is usually crossed by boats.
The perilous journey began from the Akyarlar region, affiliated with the Turkish city of Bodrum, where the 52-year-old father and his 23-year-old son set off towards Greek territory. The two men had nothing but simple swimming fins and inflatable floats, spending about 7 continuous hours facing waves and sea currents, and most of this time in complete darkness before reaching land.
Data indicates that the two men had left the Gaza Strip about a year ago, heading to Egyptian territory to receive necessary medical treatment in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip. From there, they managed to reach Turkey, where they decided to embark on this extraordinary adventure to reach Europe in search of safety and stability away from the ravages of war and displacement.
The 'Aegean Boat Report' organization, concerned with monitoring migrant movements, stated that it received a distress call from the relatives of the two men at dawn on Friday, after communication with them was lost and there were fears of them drowning. By 10 AM, the two men were able to contact the organization from the outskirts of Paradiso Beach on the island of Kos, confirming their arrival in a state of extreme exhaustion and urgent need for medical intervention.
Due to fears of the strict legal procedures taken by the Greek authorities, the two men initially hid in bushes near the beach immediately upon their arrival. Human rights organizations made efforts to persuade them to come out of their hiding place to ensure they received the necessary healthcare, especially since they were suffering from severe dehydration and physical exhaustion due to the strenuous physical effort.
Meanwhile, the 'Alarm Phone' organization launched urgent appeals via social media platforms, calling on the Greek Coast Guard and police to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the two men. Sources confirmed that the police later found them, but information about their current fate remains unclear, whether they were transferred to a hospital or to detention centers designated for migrants.
Human rights organizations described this story as one of the very rare cases documented of people attempting to reach the Greek islands by swimming, given the extreme danger to life. This incident once again highlights the harsh paths Palestinians are forced to take to escape the tragic conditions in the Gaza Strip, searching for a glimmer of hope in the European continent.
Like many who arrive on the Greek islands, they were afraid of the authorities, so they hid near the beach before securing access to care.
شارك برأيك
With flippers and floats.. a father and his son from Gaza swim across the Aegean Sea towards Greece