Greta Thunberg’s boat ‘rescues’ migrants from Libyan coastguard

A ship carrying Greta Thunberg sailing to Gaza to deliver aid has “rescued” four Sudanese migrants after they had jumped into the sea to evade Libyan authorities.

Greta Thunberg is attempting to sail to Gaza on a boat organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Picture: Getty Images

A ship carrying Greta Thunberg sailing to Gaza to deliver aid has “rescued” four Sudanese migrants after they had jumped into the sea to evade Libyan authorities.

The Madleen, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, said it had received a distress signal from a boat in the Mediterranean, forcing it to change course off the coast of Crete.

It was alerted by the European Union’s Frontex border control agency and arrived at the location in the Mediterranean where it found 30-40 people on a “boat that was rapidly deflating.”

The Libyan coastguard approached at high speed, a representative for the Coalition said, and to avoid being taken “four people jumped into the sea, and began desperately swimming toward the Madleen”.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition protested the return of the other migrants to Libya, where human rights campaigners have said they face abuse and even torture. It also has called on Italy, Greece and Malta to pick up those now on board the Madleen and bring them to safety in Europe.

Climate campaigner Ms Thunberg is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen which departed Sicily on Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade on Gaza and deliver aid. The voyage was to last seven days.

The bow of the Madleen ship. Picture: Getty Images

Among the others on board are Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent. She has been barred from entering Israel due to her active opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza.

An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group’s vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship.

AP, AFP