Türkiye expects Gaza-bound aid ship to reach shore by evening

ANKARA/ISTANBUL

The Madleen vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, which was detained by Israeli forces overnight, is expected to reach shore by this evening, according to Turkish diplomatic sources on Monday.

“The Madleen is expected to reach land in the evening hours. All kinds of consular support is being provided to our citizens, and the necessary initiatives have been taken to meet with them and ensure their release as soon as they disembark.”

The sources also noted that Türkiye is in contact with other countries whose citizens were on board the vessel, adding families of the Turkish nationals have been kept regularly informed about the developments.

On June 1, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition sent the 18-meter Madleen from Catania, Sicily, Italy, to break the blockade in Gaza and deliver aid.

A total of 12 people are on board, including 11 activists and one journalist.

Among the people on board are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg; French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan; Yasemin Acar from Germany; Baptiste Andre, Pascal Maurieras, Yanis Mhamdi, and Reva Viard from France; Thiago Avila from Brazil; Suayb Ordu from Türkiye; Sergio Toribio from Spain; Marco van Rennes from the Netherlands; and Omar Faiad, a journalist with Al Jazeera Mubasher, also from France.

The ship is carrying urgently needed supplies for the people of Gaza, including baby formula, flour, rice, diapers, women’s sanitary products, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches, and children’s prosthetics, according to its organizers.