An operation has been underway since early morning on May Day involving vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, off the coast of Crete, under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to receive approximately 175 passengers.
Global Sumud Flotilla: Navy vessel brings 175 Gaza flotilla activists to Crete (Images)
According to flashnews, the passengers were transferred to Atherinolaikos, where buses were waiting for them to continue their journey to Heraklion where they are expected to be temporarily housed, while procedures for their return to their countries of origin will subsequently be arranged. These are activists, men and women of various nationalities, including Greeks.
The large-scale operation involves forces from across Crete, with the assistance of the Coast Guard, Greek Police and relevant services.
According to marinetraffic.com, on the morning of May 1st, a flotilla consisting of 13 vessels was sailing south of the Lasithi coast heading towards Ierapetra, at whose port the ships approached.
Specifically, the flotilla consisted of the following vessels:
- IRIDISCENCE, GIROLAMA, ISOBELLA, SIRIUS, under British flag
- ZEFIRO, AZUR, NABLUS, under Polish flag
- DIABOLO BERNARDO under French flag
- GOTICO, GAUCHO, PELUTXO under Spanish flag
- ABODES under Canadian flag
- Research and rescue vessel ARCTIC SUNRISE under Dutch flag
Gerapetritis communications
Yesterday, Thursday, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis had communication with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan and his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, regarding the operation to intercept and seize flotilla vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza in international waters off Crete by Israeli armed forces.
The Foreign Ministry announcement
The Foreign Ministry issued an official announcement on Thursday 30/4 stating the following:
“Regarding the Israeli operation on Global Sumud Flotilla vessels in international waters, off Crete, we call for restraint and universal respect for International Law, including International Law of the Sea and International Humanitarian Law.
Greece, as a factor of stability in the region, guided by international law and for humanitarian reasons, requested Israel to withdraw its vessels from the area and offered its good offices by undertaking to receive the passengers on its territory and ensure their safe return to their countries.
Greek authorities are in consultation with Israeli authorities regarding the issue of safe disembarkation in Greece. A team from the Foreign Ministry is traveling to the arrival point to coordinate the actions of all relevant Greek authorities and cooperate with foreign consular authorities, who are being properly informed for their own actions”.
It is recalled that an Israeli raid had occurred on vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla while they were sailing west of Crete, in a maritime area outside Greek territorial waters, but within the Greek search and rescue responsibility area (SAR).
