Breaking: Gaza-bound humanitarian vessel Madleen diverts to answer ‘Mayday’ call

Fears of ‘trap’ after days of drones shadowing Freedom Flotilla volunteer ship, whose predecessor was drone-bombed by Israel

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla humanitarian vessel Madleen, which is sailing to Gaza with aid in an attempt to break Israel’s starvation blockade, has changed course after receiving a ‘mayday’ distress from a nearby vessel. Volunteer crew member Thiago Avila posted on his social media:

We just received a mayday call for a search and rescue situation, and we are changing our course to provide any assistance we can! Life is a priority to us.

The Flotilla’s tracking page shows the sharp change in direction this morning:

The Madleen is in the fifth day of its 1,200-mile journey to the coast of Gaza and, for the past two nights, has been harassed by drones – a threatening development after its predecessor was bombed by Israel in a night-time drone attack. Supporters have raised concerns that the ‘distress’ call may be a trap for the ship, but the crew is obliged by maritime law to attend and offer assistance.

Avila posted an update that the crew had found the ‘distressed’ boat – apparently tiny but crammed with people – but this did not assuage fears that it might still be a trap:

Avila then posted a video describing events as an ‘Egyptian’ coastguard vessel (which actually turned out to by Libyan) arrived, not to rescue the occupants of the boat, but to deport them. Four jumped into the water and were rescued by the Madleen crew – but the ship now has four people on board of unknown provenance and identity:

The voyage is a humanitarian effort by a team of international volunteers. A similar flotilla attempt to reach Gaza in 2010 was attacked by Israel, killing ten crew members and wounding dozens. Supporters of the apartheid colony, including extremist senior US senator Lindsey Graham, have called for Israel to sink the ship, while UN experts have demanded a guarantee of safe passage for it.

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