Antalya: Escorted by Turkish Coast Guard units, a boat taking part in the Gaza-bound Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla was brought to a marina in Antalya, southern Trkiye, on Tuesday after suffering a malfunction at sea.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sumeyra Akdeniz Ordu, a member of the flotilla’s board of directors, reported that there were 27 people on board the vessel, called the Family, from countries including Argentina, Egypt, France, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Tunisia, Morocco, and Mexico. Fourteen of them were health care workers. Ordu noted that the group had spent an extended period at sea in an effort to break what she described as the illegal blockade on Gaza.

Ordu explained that the flotilla’s mission was to provide both technical and medical aid to Gaza. She said, “We had a technical failure at sea and had to wait for some time. The Turkish Coast Guard assisted us and we returned to a port in Trkiye.” The flotilla’s goal is to deliver medical assistance to Palestinians in Gaza with the help of volunteer doctors.

Regarding the other vessels in the aid flotilla, Ordu mentioned that they remain in contact with crews still heading toward Gaza. She expressed pride in the ships continuing their mission despite challenges, including Israel’s attack on the flotilla. Ordu described the Family as a “vessel of resilience,” highlighting its symbolic value as the first ship to come under attack while docked in Tunisia.

Ordu shared that the flotilla intends to resume its mission, emphasizing the unity and familial bond among participants from various countries. She stated, “We’re now in the process of moving to Plan B and Plan C, God willing.”

The Israeli army on Monday attacked the Gaza-bound Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla in international waters and detained around 100 activists as the mission sought to break Israel’s long-standing blockade on the Palestinian enclave.