ANKARA: Türkiye has joined Spain, Italy and Greece in monitoring an international flotilla carrying aid for Gaza that was sailing east across the Mediterranean Sea on Monday despite warnings from Israel to stop the mission, flight data show. Flight tracking websites showed that three long-endurance drones originating from Türkiye's Corlu airbase have been circling over the flotilla for three days, highlighting the growing international interest in the boats which have vowed to breach an Israeli naval blockade around the embattled Gaza Strip. It was unable to confirm the reason for the drone flights. Türkiye's foreign and defence ministries and the intelligence agency did not respond to requests for comment.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of civilian boats carrying parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, was still hundreds of miles off the Gaza coastline. But it was approaching an area where other flotillas have previously been intercepted, people on board said. Tracking sites showed about 40 boats in the flotilla. Its advance has raised international tensions, especially after a drone attack last week damaged some boats. No one was injured, but the flotilla had to pause for several days in Greek waters for repairs before setting sail again for Gaza over the weekend.
Organisers said that the mission was now expected to reach Gaza in about four days. Italy and Spain have deployed navy ships to accompany the flotilla in case of rescue or humanitarian needs, but have said they will not engage militarily. Greece's coastguard had also monitored progress while the flotilla was in its rescue area. Italy warned on Sunday that the flotilla was nearing a high-risk zone and repeated a proposal made last week for the flotilla to take the aid to Cyprus for eventual distribution in Gaza by the Roman Catholic Church. The flotilla rejected the idea.
"Israel has shown several times it has no red lines so it is clear that we are worried by what it could do. We will obviously do everything to have a peaceful, non-violent stance," Italian European Parliament member, Benedetta Scuderi, told Italy's Radio 24 on Monday from aboard the flotilla. Israel did not comment on last week's drone incident but has previously said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its naval blockade is legal as it battles Hamas in the coastal enclave. Italy's La Stampa newspaper reported that Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday had assured the Italian ambassador to Israel that Israel would "not use lethal force" against the flotilla members.
Meanwhile, the UN children's charity called for an immediate evacuation to save at least 25 ill or premature babies in incubators in Gaza City as Israel steps up its ground offensive, shelling a hospital overnight housing around half of them. Palestinian health officials say tanks are surrounding the area near Al Helo Hospital, where at least 12 babies are in incubators. Medics said the site was shelled. "It is time to move them because Gaza City again has become a combat zone, but moving them where? There is no safe place for them to go," Unicef spokesperson Ricardo Pires said. — Reuters
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