The Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of ships carrying humanitarian aid and medicines for Gaza, has reached close to the besieged enclave.
According to Arab media, the flotilla announced on its website that it is currently 118 nautical miles from Gaza, just 8 miles away from the location where Israeli forces seized the aid ship Madeleine in June.
Zain-ul-Abidin Özkan, an activist aboard one of the vessels, told Turkey’s state news agency that drones hovered over the flotilla throughout the night.
At around 5 a.m., the GPS and internet systems of the flotilla’s main vessel, Alma, were disabled following a cyberattack, severing communications.
Metihan Sari, a Turkish activist on Alma, described the incident as “the most intense harassment we have faced so far,” adding:
“They tried to intimidate us, but we were not scared, and we made it clear that we will not be frightened.”
According to Sari, Israeli naval ships came as close as 5 to 10 meters to Alma.
