The Global Steadfast Fleet resumed its voyage towards the Gaza Strip amid significant international attention after a temporary halt due to technical malfunctions, while Turkish authorities announced the evacuation of passengers from the “Johnny M” ship, which faced the risk of sinking in the Mediterranean Sea following water leakage into its engine room.

A statement from the fleet organizers clarified that the incident would not cause a major delay, and the fleet is expected to reach the Gaza Strip within four days, currently about 305 nautical miles from Gaza’s shores.

Flight monitoring data showed that Turkey joined Spain, Italy, and Greece in protecting the fleet carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, following an Israeli drone attack off the Greek coast last week. The fleet had to stop for several days in Greek waters for repairs before resuming its journey earlier this week.

Field reporters noted growing international interest in the fleet’s route, with two warships spotted—one Italian and one Spanish—alongside a Turkish Red Crescent ship near the “Global Steadfast” fleet, which includes about 50 ships carrying over 500 activists from 40 countries.

The first convoys of the fleet departed in late August from the Spanish port of Barcelona, followed by other ships in early September from the Italian port of Genoa. This is the first maritime movement of such scale towards the Gaza Strip, aiming to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza and break the siege on the strip, which has been facing a genocidal war and starvation policy imposed by the Israeli occupation since October 7, 2023.