The Freedom Flotilla sailing towards Gaza has raised its security alert after unidentified drones flew dangerously close to one of its vessels late Sunday. Crew members reported three drones hovering overhead, with one approaching at what they described as a threatening distance before eventually pulling away. The incident has deepened concerns for the safety of those on board, as the fleet continues its journey across international waters.

The lead ship, Deir Yassin, has been at sea for nearly a week since departing Tunisia and is now navigating waters near Greece. Despite the drone scare, activists on board described their determination as “firm and unwavering,” stressing that only days remain before their planned arrival off the coast of Gaza. The flotilla, the largest of its kind, includes around 50 vessels carrying humanitarian aid and medical supplies, with participants from across Europe, Latin America, the Arab world, Asia, and the United States.

The mission comes against the backdrop of an 18-year blockade that has sealed Gaza off from the world, leaving 2.4 million people trapped under siege. While aid trucks pile up at the borders, very little is allowed to enter, and the enclave continues to endure mass displacement, famine, and bombardment. For those sailing on the flotilla, every mile forward is a direct challenge to the suffocation of Gaza, a statement of solidarity that refuses to bow to threats from the sky or the sea.