London, Sept 27, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – Britons travelling to Gaza as part of a 52-boat flotilla are “under attack,” a sailor on board has warned.
Louie-Joe Findlater said the UK government’s recognition of a Palestinian state is “worthless, if they don’t actually take action to protect their citizens” on the boats.
The 33-year-old Briton joined the flotilla in Barcelona, as part of an independent international effort to “break the Israeli occupation’s illegal siege on Gaza”, and take humanitarian aid across the Mediterranean.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry this week urged flotilla participants to dock at Ashkelon marina in Israel to unload aid, warning that Israeli authorities “will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone, and will not allow the breach of a lawful naval blockade.”
Findlater told the PA news agency on Thursday that sailors and volunteers were “on alert” and said: “We’re making all the best decisions we can, but ultimately, we’re a boat floating at sea and we need the protection of our governments to guarantee that we’re going to stay safe.”
According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, they faced “moderate drone activity” overnight into Thursday, but “drones launched explosives and gases on boats” earlier this week, with objects dropped on at least 10 boats and communications jammed.
Findlater described “enormous flashes, explosions and loud bangs” during the attack, but added he had “probably not digested” what he had experienced.
Speaking off the coast of Crete, he said: “We’re British citizens under attack.”
He said the UK government had “recognized Palestine but recognition alone is worthless, if they don’t actually take action to protect their citizens, number one, when they’re on a humanitarian aid mission through international waters, legal by all international law.”
Findlater added: “We need to make sure we can get that aid to Gaza, and if they really do recognise Palestine, they should recognize our right to do so and the right of the Palestinians to receive that.
“So that’s one thing, that’s very pressing on our mind at the moment…because we are obviously very concerned about our security.”
He warned that delivering aid by land was “not a sustainable method, because they’ve been trying to do that for years” but aid workers have faced disruption.
Italy has deployed a navy frigate “for possible rescue operations,” according to defence minister Guido Crosetto.
“In a democracy, demonstrations and forms of protest must also be protected when they are carried out in accordance with international law and without resorting to violence,” the minister said.
Speaking in New York, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez demanded “that international law be complied with, and that the right of our citizens to navigate the Mediterranean safely be respected.”
These moves had “changed” the mood aboard the boats, Findlater said.
He added he has been “overwhelmed by the camaraderie and spirit amongst everybody,” but warned he does not “feel protected in the slightest” by the UK government.
GNA