The Gaza Freedom Flotilla is fighting for its very existence. One of its ships has just sent out a distress SOS call after an alleged drone attack in the middle of the night off the coast of Malta. Yasemin Acar, the Coalition’s Press Officer, described the incident in a phone call with CNN from Malta. She provided reassurance that the ship is now anchored 17 kilometers off the coast of Malta, in international waters. It has been dealt a serious blow from the assault.
Acar reported that the vessel had sent SOS calls to surrounding countries, including Malta, as it struggles to stay afloat. She emphasized the importance of every effort made, in particular noting that a small boat from Southern Cyprus has already been sent to help. She noted that this boat “is not providing electricity that is needed on the vessel right now.”
The situation has become increasingly critical. Acar also produced a map showing where the hole in the vessel was located, and how fast it is sinking. She emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, “We have 30 international human rights activists on that vessel at this very moment on a vessel that is sinking.”
Acar says the drone attack’s likely primary target was the generators on the bow of the ship. That truly shows how targeted that area was during the attack and assault. She recounted that they heard two heavy blasts during the accident, which has caused the ship to rest in a vulnerable position.
“Our vessel is 17 kilometers off the shores of Malta right now in international waters, and they have been subjected to a drone attack twice.” – Yasemin Acar
The Coalition has been working around the clock to provide support as the crew and activists aboard the Rainbow Warrior are under immediate threat. With the ship quickly flooding and losing all power, every second is important.
As this story continues to unfold, it is unclear how the international community will respond. The Coalition calls for swift action to avert any future tragedies. They are deeply committed to making sure that everyone on board gets home safely.
