Turkey stepped in to evacuate activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla after one of the vessels began taking on water, according to organisers and Turkish state media Anadolu.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which includes Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, set sail from Barcelona earlier this month with the goal of challenging Israel’s blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged territory. The mission was temporarily halted when one of the ships, Johnny M, suffered a leak in its engine room.

“All participants have been safely transferred to another vessel,” organisers announced on Instagram. “Some will be reassigned to other ships, while others will be brought ashore.”

The incident occurred in international waters between Crete, Cyprus, and Egypt, prompting a distress call early Monday. Turkish authorities, including the Turkish Red Crescent, coordinated the evacuation.

Semih Fener, captain of one of the rescue vessels, told Anadolu the issue stemmed from a technical malfunction. “We picked up 12 people and distributed them to other ships. Four people will return home,” he said, noting that the evacuees would travel via Turkey to their respective countries.

The Turkish Red Crescent confirmed its role in the operation to AFP. The flotilla’s journey comes amid dire warnings from the United Nations of widespread starvation in Gaza due to Israel’s ongoing military campaign.