Turkey Rescues Passengers from Distressed Gaza-Bound Ship
ANKARA – Turkish authorities, in coordination with the Turkish Red Crescent, evacuated twelve individuals from the cargo vessel Johnny M. after it issued a distress call Monday morning while sailing in international waters between Crete,Cyprus,and egypt. the ship was part of the “freedom Flotilla” attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The incident, attributed to a technical failure, comes as the flotilla faces increased scrutiny and reported attacks. While organizers of the ”Freedom Flotilla” confirmed all passengers were safely transferred to another vessel, with some reassigned to other ships and others returning home via Turkey, they did not acknowledge Turkey’s role in the rescue operation. Four passengers required repatriation through Turkey, according to Semih Fener, captain of one of the Turkish vessels involved in the evacuation.
The Johnny M.‘s distress signal prompted a swift response from Turkish authorities. The flotilla, which departed Barcelona, Spain earlier this month, aims to reach gaza within four days to deliver humanitarian assistance. Italy and Spain have deployed naval vessels to the area to provide protection following reports of attacks condemned by the UN and the European Union.
