Flotilla tracker here.
Overnight on September 23, a number of drones were hovering over the Global Sumud Flotilla. As many as 13 boats were attacked, with chemical spray or incendiary devices or flash-bangs. Radio communication was hi-jacked to play Abba (a Swedish group, probably referencing Greta Thunberg, who is on the boat Familia). No people were seriously injured, only reports of a single person having a burn on an arm. But the sails on at least one boat were damaged. Along with daytime drones visible from the boats, it seems to be psychological mostly at this point. But the crew are fearing that attacks will increase in frequency and intensity as they get nearer to their destination.
This was the second such attack. The first night involved only 3 boats, including The Family, the boat carrying Greta Thunberg.
I guess full disclosure here: I contributed to the US boats, and I got the T-shirt.
(Yes, I’m still using Xitter. Lots of good international stuff there. These are screenshots, for those of you who don’t have Xitter.)
Israel is using “Israel has a right to defend itself”. The idea is that they’re laying a foundation for being allowed to attack the flotilla. Greta pointed out that the destination isn’t Israel, it’s Gaza.
Tadhg is Irish. I follow him closely. He’s on the boat Alma, one of the ones attacked.
Italy had a nation-wide demonstration.
Things got heated when Meloni wouldn’t recognize Palestine.
Countries had opinions. This is Malaysia, but Colombia weighed in, too.
Bosnia has opinions. And a history lesson.
Then there was this. Oakland and New York had major demonstrations. There was a women’s march in Dallas.
An emergency ship has joined the flotilla, with medical aid and mechanical help for boats that have issues. You can see a flotilla boat to the left, with sails, and the people dispatched to help with a current need. But this isn’t a protective ship.
Now Italy, and then Spain, are sending a navy vessel each, but they’re still a couple of days away.
Meanwhile, the flotilla has shifted course slightly. Instead of sailing in international waters, they’re staying within sight of Crete. The drones were quiet last night, not able to enter busy airspace, so everyone got some rest. But they can’t stay there forever.
Meanwhile, people of Palestine are in communication with the flotilla, and are ready, days earlier than the boats can possibly reach them, but they’re desperate.
