Freedom Flotilla ship reaches Egyptian coast, approaches Gaza

The aid ship "Madeleine" carrying 12 activists arrived off the Egyptian coast en route to the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, campaign organizers announced Saturday.

The Freedom Flotilla coalition ship set sail from Sicily, Italy, on Sunday, bound for Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, "break the Israeli blockade," and highlight the ongoing suffering in the Palestinian enclave, where the United Nations says the entire population is threatened with famine.

"We are currently sailing off the Egyptian coast. Everything is fine," German human rights activist Yasemin Akar told AFP.

Akar explained that the ship is now near the coast of the Egyptian city of Alexandria, and is expected to reach Gaza by Monday morning.

She added, "We are approximately 288 nautical miles away, which means that by Sunday evening we will be close to Gaza's territorial waters."

However, the ship's crew reported spotting a number of drones flying in the air during the voyage.

According to a video posted by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition on its social media accounts, a Greek Coast Guard drone flew over the area on Tuesday evening.

Hours later, two drones believed to be from Frontex, the European Union's border and coast guard agency, approached the ship. Another drone flew over the ship on Thursday morning.

Activists said the crew was safe, expressing their belief that the surveillance drones were intended to intimidate.

"We are fully aware of the actual consequences," Akar said.

She noted that the ship "Madeleine" is flying the flag of the United Kingdom and is close to Gaza's territorial waters, describing the Strip as "occupied by Israel."

She added: "If Israel attacks us, it will be another war crime. We would not have embarked on this mission if we did not believe we would reach Gaza."

Akar did not reveal when or where the ship might try to reach the Strip.

A brave challenge

The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza said in a statement from London: "The Madeleine's approach to the shores of Gaza represents a courageous challenge to the unjust policies that besiege civilians, and a message of solidarity from the peoples of the free world with our steadfast people in Gaza."

The committee affirmed that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is in constant contact with international legal and human rights bodies to ensure the safety of activists on board the ship, emphasizing that "any attack on or obstruction of the ship constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."

She added that the "Madeleine" is part of a series of naval operations organized over the past few years as part of the "Freedom Flotilla," with the support and partnership of international civil society alliances, prominent figures, and humanitarian organizations around the world.

European Parliament member Rima Hassan, who was on board the ship, urged governments to "ensure safe passage (for the Freedom Flotilla)."

She also said that more than 200 European lawmakers signed an open letter to Israel demanding that it allow the ship to reach Gaza and "immediately allow its humanitarian cargo into the country."

In a statement on Friday, Amnesty International described the flight as a "significant gesture of solidarity" and said there was "no justification" for obstructing humanitarian aid in what it described as "one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters."

The Freedom Flotilla, formed in 2010, is a non-violent international movement in solidarity with the Palestinians, with a humanitarian dimension, and is active against the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

In addition to the flotilla, the Global March to Gaza, an international initiative aimed at highlighting the blockade on the Strip, is preparing for a coordinated campaign.

The two groups formed a joint committee to coordinate their efforts.

The Global March to Gaza plans to hold a rally in Cairo on June 12 and depart the following day by bus to El-Arish, near the border with Gaza.

From there, 2,700 people from more than 50 countries will march to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, set up camp there for a few days, and return to Cairo on June 19.