Israeli forces board charity boat certain for Gaza with activist Greta Thunburg aboard
JERUSALEM — Israeli forces have boarded a charity vessel making an attempt to succeed in the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition stated early Monday.
The British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian FFC, had departed from Sicily on June 6 and had hoped to succeed in Gaza later within the day, when the interception occurred, the group stated on its Telegram account.
Amongst these on board the boat are Swedish local weather activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.
The Israeli army had no instant remark.
Shortly earlier than the FFC assertion, the Israeli Overseas Ministry posted a video on X displaying the Israeli Navy speaking with the Madleen over a loudspeaker, urging it to vary course.
“The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval visitors as a part of a authorized naval blockade,” a soldier stated. “When you want to ship humanitarian assist to the Gaza Strip, you’ll be able to accomplish that by means of the (Israeli) port of Ashdod.”
The yacht, with its 12-person crew, was carrying a symbolic cargo of humanitarian assist, together with rice and child method.
Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz ordered the army on Sunday to stop the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in help of Hamas.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took management of Gaza in 2007.
The blockade has remained in place by means of a number of conflicts, together with the present warfare, which started after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed greater than 1,200 folks, based on an Israeli tally.
Gaza’s well being ministry says over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed for the reason that begin of Israel’s army marketing campaign.
The United Nations has warned that the majority of Gaza’s greater than 2 million residents are dealing with famine.