Panic at sea: Activists on the Gaza flotilla, including Greta Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, sent out a dramatic SOS signal to the world yesterday (Tuesday) after spotting a drone circling above the ship Madleen. Not long after, it turned out the drone belonged to the Greek Coast Guard – not to Israeli or Iranian forces, as they had assumed.
An Unnecessary Distress Call
As part of the international flotilla attempting to break the blockade, the ship Madleen departed Sunday from the port of Catania in Sicily, carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza. En route, the crew spotted a Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying at low altitude. Against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions, the activists quickly issued an urgent distress call.
According to the organization, the incident occurred approximately 68 kilometers outside Greek territorial waters. It was later confirmed that the drone was Greek and had been monitoring the vessel according to protocol.
#FreedomFlotilla #BreakTheSiege #AllEyesOnDeck pic.twitter.com/n5yHQ2xdOj
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 3, 2025
Second Attempt Within a Month
This marks the second attempt in recent weeks to send a flotilla to Gaza. In May, another ship from the same group reported being struck in international waters near Malta.
Organizers claimed that the ship, which was carrying 30 international activists and humanitarian supplies, was attacked by a drone. Following the alleged strike, the vessel issued an SOS signal to authorities in Malta and nearby countries.
Videos released by the organization showed the ship on fire, with thick smoke billowing and loud explosions heard in the background.
The organization accused Israel of carrying out the attack, but officials in Jerusalem declined to comment on the matter.
