Hours after returning to Bulgaria, Vasil Dimitrov - the Bulgarian who was detained by the Israeli authorities as part of the “Sumud” Global flotilla - stood in front of the NOVA camera. The vessels were trying to reach the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to deliver humanitarian products, but also to draw world attention to the crisis. Our compatriot was on one of the detained boats.
Just before the “Sumud” flotilla reached the shores of Gaza, it was stopped. Captain Vasil Dimitrov was on one of the boats.
„I am especially grateful to the “Grande Bleu” "There was no violence. The Israeli commandos took us on board, took control of the boat, locked us in it and for over 7 hours they steered it to the port of Ashdod. They dragged us quite roughly along the ground, kept us lying face down for hours and then took us to a maximum security prison in one of the deserts of Israel," Dimitrov said.
This is how, after weeks at sea, the mission for over 40 boats and yachts ends. Dimitrov learned about the flotilla, which will also include eco-activist Greta Thunberg, from social networks.
This is how, after weeks at sea, the mission for over 40 boats and yachts ends. Dimitrov learned about the flotilla, which will also include eco-activist Greta Thunberg, from social media.
"They approved me through a series of remote interviews, it turned out that we have common moral values," he adds.
And so they set off.
"We were a few people who had experience at sea and knew how to manage, and we took turns" he adds.
Their mission is to deliver humanitarian aid such as food and medicine, to open a humanitarian corridor, and to draw public attention to Gaza. They know that the chance is small.
"There is currently no war in any of the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. We were arrested in international waters, where no country has authority,” Dimitrov adds.
After the arrest by the Israeli authorities and his being taken to prison, long hours followed, during which his relatives did not know what was happening.
“I want to express my gratitude to the Bulgarian consul in Israel, who came and visited me, and did his job of passing on information to my relatives about my whereabouts”, Vasil also says.
And after the news about the flotilla flooded all the world's media, special attention was paid to the moment when the MEP from France threw away her mobile phone before being arrested.
“Not only did she throw away her phone, but each of us did so. That was the way to protect ourselves. We protected ourselves from further persecution”, adds Vasil Dimitrov.