Newsroom
A boat linked to the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” an international activist mission carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, arrived Tuesday at the harbor in Kato Paphos after what crew members described as a tense journey across the eastern Mediterranean.
The vessel, named “Vivy Sabre,” carried six men from Italy, Spain, Mexico and Morocco.
Crew members told reporters the flotilla had departed from Augusta, Sicily, and later came under attack near Ierapetra, off the coast of Crete.
Danielle Gallina, an Italian activist living in Belgium, said the group later sailed toward Marmaris, Turkey, through international waters.
“Yesterday we were attacked,” she claimed, referring to the wider flotilla. She also alleged that some passengers from other vessels were detained.
Gallina said the “Vivy Sabre” managed to reach Cyprus after experiencing technical problems onboard and after one passenger required medical attention.
The crew is now trying to repair the vessel in Paphos before continuing its journey, she added.
According to the activists, the flotilla was carrying humanitarian aid, including food and basic supplies intended for civilians in Gaza.
Gallina also claimed the group had been asked to remove the Palestinian flag from the boat, adding that crew members are now concerned they may face restrictions in other European ports.
The arrival of the vessel in Cyprus came a day after Israeli forces intercepted another ship linked to the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Cyprus while it was heading toward Gaza.
Organizers say the flotilla includes 52 vessels and more than 400 participants from over 45 countries.
The incident comes amid growing international tensions over humanitarian access to Gaza and increasing activism across the Mediterranean linked to the war.
