Greece to guarantee safe sailing of Gaza flotilla in its waters, minister says

Greece will warrant the harmless sailing of boats presently successful its waters arsenic portion of an planetary flotilla heading to Gaza, its overseas curate said connected Thursday, adding that Athens had informed Israel that Greek citizens were successful the flotilla.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is utilizing astir 50 civilian boats to try to interruption Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Many lawyers and activists, including Swedish clime campaigner Greta Thunberg, are connected board.

“There are a small fig of boats presently successful the waters of Crete, and we will warrant the harmless sailing,” Giorgos Gerapetritis told Reuters successful an interrogation connected the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

“We person already informed the Israeli authorities astir the information of Greek citizens successful this, and we will marque sure that everything goes well.”

Israel has repeatedly criticized the flotilla, accusing its activists of complicity with the Hamas militant group.

Italy sent a navy vessel to the flotilla’s assistance aft the vessels were attacked by 12 drones successful planetary waters 30 nautical miles (56 km) disconnected the Greek land of Gavdos.

Gerapetritis said Athens was not readying to articulation Italian and Spanish naval ships astatine this stage.

He played down the drone incident, but said there would beryllium a afloat enquiry to find what happened.

“At the moment, it seems that it is safe, but we are connected afloat alert astir it,” helium said. [Reuters]