Activist Thiago Avila, a member of the Coalition Committee Freedom FleetThe crew on board the “Madeleine” ship, which is heading towards the Gaza Strip, monitored a running department at a low altitude of their near, stressing that they took safety measures, in anticipation of any possible Israeli targeting.
In an intervention with Al -Jazeera from the ship, Avila explained that the night flying of the manager was very worrying, especially since he brought back to mind an accident in which another ship was targeted by a similar manager, noting that the crew was unable to determine the dependency of the drone or the purpose of flying near them.
He added that the path disappeared minutes after flying without the ship’s crew receiving any clarifications from the Greek authorities regarding it, suggesting that the plane will be part of a survey or a psychological pressure method, in the absence of transparency about the follow -up parties of the ship’s movements.
On the nature of the procedures followed in such circumstances, Avila said that they are dealing with security threats with great caution, and they re -evaluate the situation every time a drone appears, stressing that they may have to leave the ship if it was subjected to a direct attack.
He pointed out that the maximum priority is to protect the lives of those on board “Madeleine”, and therefore the crew remains ready for the possibility of dealing with any emergency security development, especially in light of the repeated threats that are chasing their journey.
This came at a time when the newspaper “Jerusalem Post” quoted Israeli military sources that the thirteenth fleet and the IDF missile boats are intended to send a direct message to the “Madeleine” ship, asking it not to enter the Gaza area, with the threat to control it if its crew does not comply.
There is no authority for Israel
Regarding these threats, Avila said that Israel has no legal authority over international waters, nor on the Palestinian territories, stressing that its continuation in attacking ships or preventing the entry of aid is a clear violation of international law.
He added that the International Court of Justice affirmed the illegality of preventing the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, noting that the threats of Israel will not discourage them from continuing the mission, but rather that it may push thousands of boats later to launch towards Gaza in a challenge to the imposed blockade.
He considered that the attack on “Madeleine” or the arrest of its passengers will only be an Israeli strategic mistake, because the world will then move more in support of the Palestinian issue, stressing that Israel had previously arrested participants in the ships of breaking the siege, but that did not stop the activists.
He stressed that what they are doing is an expression of the global popular will in supporting Gaza, stressing that the human tragedy there, especially among children who are starving, calls for urgent and courageous move from the international community.
Avila pointed out that their movement does not come in isolation from other efforts, as there are two flights that will start soon within the “World to Gaza” campaign: the first from Cairo, and the second from Tunisia under the title “The Journey of Resilience”, aimed at breaking the siege by land and sea.
He explained that the Freedom Fleet seeks to open humanitarian corridors that allow the introduction of food, medicine and medical assistance, including the prostheses of the children of the shelling victims, stressing that the current battle is not only free, but ethical and humanitarian in the first place.
We will not surrender
Avila stressed their willingness to bear the consequences, but they do not accept surrender, calling on everyone to support efforts to break the siege on Gaza and expose the occupation practices, stressing that the world has become more aware after the massacres of the last months.
The ship “Madeleine” was launched from Sicily, southern Italy last Sunday, with 12 international activists to break the Israeli siege on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.
The move came after a previous attempt was failed due to an Israeli attack with two running planes on another ship in the Mediterranean near Malta in early May.
“Madeleine” is ship No. 36 as part of the chain of ships of the Freedom Fleet Alliance, and Israel has repeatedly threatened to use the force to intercept any ships trying to reach Gaza.
And previously attacked Israel in 2010 The ship is not Marmara Within the Freedom Fleet in the coast of Palestine, killing 10 Turkish citizens, and the arrest of other activists on board the ship.
And the “Freedom Flotilla”, which was formed in 2010, is an international movement of solidarity with the Palestinians, which is a human dimension, and is active against the Israeli siege on Gaza.