Drone Scare on Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Mission Continues Despite Tense Encounter

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla, a humanitarian aid mission, recently experienced a tense encounter with a drone while sailing in international waters. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, causing confusion and panic among the crew who issued a distress signal. The drone was later confirmed to be a Hellenic Coast Guard surveillance drone. Yasemin Acar, a volunteer crew member aboard the 'Madleen' ship, described the incident: "We sighted a drone today at 11 PM while we were 80 kilometers off the coast of Greece. And right now, we have a drone to our left and a drone to our right." Despite this incident, and a previous attack a month prior where another flotilla ship was bombed and set ablaze, the flotilla remains undeterred in their mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Thiago Avila, another volunteer crew member, stated, "They will not deter us, their violence will not deter us, we keep on going in solidarity with the Palestinian people." The flotilla's continued journey underscores the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza and the activists' unwavering commitment to their cause. The 'Madleen' ship, carrying aid and a 12-person crew, continues its voyage to Gaza, symbolizing the resilience of those advocating for an end to the blockade.