Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Wednesday that Madrid will dispatch a navy vessel to support a Gaza-bound Global Sumud aid flotilla after organizers reported their boats were targeted by drones near Greece, as the U.N. called for a probe over the attack.
"We are concerned, and that is why we will be deploying a ship to ensure that, if necessary, our citizens can be rescued and brought back to Spain," he told a news conference in New York, adding that the ship would depart on Thursday.
Italy announced earlier on Wednesday that it had sent a navy frigate to assist the flotilla.
U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan called the reports “serious violations” and demanded an “independent, impartial and thorough investigation,” stressing that those responsible must be held accountable.
The flotilla set sail from Barcelona earlier this month with the goal of breaking Israel's illegal blockade and delivering desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the U.N. says civilians are starving under Israel’s ongoing military offensive. Activists said their cargo includes food, baby formula, water and medical supplies.
“We are sailing peacefully in international waters. We are not carrying weapons. We are carrying food, baby formula, medical supplies, and water,” Thunberg said in an interview shared on the flotilla’s Instagram account, denouncing the drone attacks as “scare tactics.”
