Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz instructed the army to keep the charity yacht carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching Gaza, where they plan to defy the Israeli naval blockade. The British-flagged Madleen, under the management of the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), left Sicily on June 6 and is now off Egypt’s coast, gradually heading towards the Gaza Strip.
Katz issued a stern warning, instructing Thunberg and other activists to reverse, referring to their operation as reinforcing Hamas propaganda and opposing their actions as a danger to Israeli national security. He reiterated that Israel would not permit any violation of the blockade, which Israel deems necessary to hindering weapons smuggling to Hamas.
Thunberg, however, stated she boarded the Madleen to protest Israel’s illegal blockade and mounting war crimes in Gaza, to bring to light the serious humanitarian crisis. The conflict and blockade have ravaged Gaza, with over 54,000 Palestinians reported killed since Israel attacked Gaza with a military campaign in October 2023 after a Hamas attack that claimed over 1,200 Israelis.
The Madleen has on board minimal humanitarian cargo, such as rice and baby milk. The FFC has indicated that the yacht is some 160 nautical miles off Gaza and making preparations to be intercepted by Israeli authorities.
Reports indicate that Israel intends to seize the yacht and divert it to Ashdod port, where it will deport the crew. The action is reminiscent of a 2010 tragedy when Israeli commandos stormed the Turkish Mavi Marmara flotilla trying to breach the blockade and killed 10 activists.
The clashes serve to accentuate the controversies over Gaza’s blockade and the global push to attract attention to the human rights crisis there.
