A Gaza-bound aid boat, carrying environmental activist Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian activists, has been diverted to Israel by the Israeli authorities, as announced by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ship, known as the Madleen and flagged in Britain, is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an organization supportive of the Palestinian cause.
In a social media post, it was noted that the ship and its passengers were being escorted safely to Israeli shores. The passengers, including Thunberg, are expected to return to their home countries, while the humanitarian aid they were transporting will be directed to Gaza through normal channels, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
The ministry subsequently confirmed the safety of all passengers and released footage of the activists receiving sandwiches and water. It stated that Thunberg was safe and in good spirits as she was taken to Israel.
The FFC initially claimed that its passengers had been “kidnapped” by Israeli forces and subsequently released video messages from the individuals on board the vessel, following initial reports that the Israeli military had boarded the ship.
Thunberg, aged 22, was amongst a group of a dozen activists on the vessel, which had set sail from Sicily on May 1st with a mission to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza. Their intention was to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, but they were thwarted by Israeli intervention.
Additionally on board was Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian heritage, who has been barred from entering Israel due to her opposition to Israel’s policies towards Palestinians. She reported on Twitter that the Freedom Flotilla’s crew was seized by the Israeli army in international waters early in the morning.
This diversion comes after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared his orders to prevent the ship from reaching the shore and to take necessary measures to stop it. Despite the blockade, Israel has recently allowed some basic humanitarian aid into Gaza, following the brutal suppression of Hamas and restrictions to prevent weapon importation.
However, humanitarian organizations caution that famine may continue unless the blockade is lifted and the lingering conflict, which was triggered by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, is brought to an end.
A previous attempt by the Freedom Flotilla to deliver aid by sea also failed after one of their vessels was targeted in a drone attack while in international waters off Malta. The group attributed the attack to Israel.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-bound-aid-boat-carrying-greta-thunberg-and-other-activists-diverted-to-israel-13380969
