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Several vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla that were damaged during an Israeli operation against the Gaza-bound mission in international waters have been brought to Antalya for repairs before being prepared to sail again, according to a flotilla board member.
The vessels, some with damaged engines and broken sails, are being repaired at a shipyard by Turkish and international volunteers. Once restored, the ships are being sent to Italy as part of preparations for another voyage toward Gaza.
Global Sumud Flotilla board member Sumeyra Akdeniz Ordu told Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency that volunteers were working to recover vessels that had been left drifting at sea following the incident.
“We are trying to collect the vessels drifting at sea one by one. We are on a rescue mission,” Ordu said. “We are repairing these vessels so they can set out for Gaza again.”
She said flotilla vessels were being held at several locations, with 14 currently in Antalya.
Volunteers from different countries have traveled to the city to participate in the repair effort, she said.
“We have repaired two of our vessels and sent them to Italy,” Ordu added.
She said each vessel prepared for the mission carried strong emotional significance for the organizers, who were treating the ships with particular care during maintenance and restoration.
Ordu said some of the vessels had sustained significant damage and described what volunteers found after recovering them.
“The masts were broken, surface cleaner and coffee had been poured into the engines, and the hoses of each vessel had been cut one by one,” she said.
She also said larger vessels had collided with the flotilla ships, causing further damage, and alleged that sails had been individually cut with knives.
“We had very beautiful sails. Our friends created works of art here with their own hands,” she said.
Ordu said the extent of the damage had made repairs difficult but that volunteers continued working intensively to restore the vessels.
Ordu described Türkiye as a safe harbor and said the repair operations were continuing without problems.
She said the flotilla would continue its efforts on behalf of Palestinians despite the difficulties it had faced.
“If the enemy does not give up, we can never give up,” she said. “We are trying to be a voice here for our Palestinian friends.”
Ordu said the damage to the vessels reflected what she described as continued violence by Israel and said flotilla members remained determined to continue their resistance efforts.
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