Spain has announced that it will send a navy ship to support the Gaza aid flotilla, which was attacked by drones last night.
It comes just hours after Italy announced that one of its navy frigates was sailing to support its citizens on board.
Speaking from a UN assembly in New York, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez said "a maritime action vessel equipped with all the necessary resources” will sail from the port of Cartagena tomorrow, “in case some kind of rescue is necessary”.
Novara Media’s @kieran.andrieu is on one of the flotilla’s lead boats, Family, tonight, and says they are sheltering near Greek waters. Search and rescue ship Life Support, from UN-partner organisation Emergency, is with them, but the Italian navy ship is still on its way.
Initially, he said, people on board were preparing for another night of attacks, but they now hope that the promise of protection from two European governments will act as a deterrent.
According to Spanish newspaper El Pais, the Spanish Ministry of Defence contacted its Italian equivalent this afternoon to coordinate their actions. El Pais claims its sources within the ministry have said another country could also join them.
The vessels would operate only in international waters, El Pais reports, and would not confront Israel, but would provide assistance to the flotilla if necessary.
Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau is on the flotilla, and politican Lucía Muñoz Dalda.
Yesterday, Spain said it would respond to an attack. “Spain will respond to any action that violates freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and international law,” the foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, said in a statement.
Spain had previously urged Israel to “refrain from any unlawful or violent act against the Flotilla”, and joined 16 other countries in expressing concern for the safety of those on board.
