Israeli forces board charity boat sure for Gaza with activist Greta Thunberg aboard

JERUSALEM — Israeli forces have boarded a charity vessel making an attempt to achieve the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition mentioned early Monday.

The British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian FFC, had departed from Sicily on June 6 and had hoped to achieve Gaza later within the day, when the interception occurred, the group mentioned 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 rapid 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 mentioned. “If you happen to want to ship humanitarian support to the Gaza Strip, you’ll be able to achieve this via the (Israeli) port of Ashdod.”

The yacht, with its 12-person crew, was carrying a symbolic cargo of humanitarian support, together with rice and child components.

Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz ordered the army on Sunday to forestall the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in assist 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 via a number of conflicts, together with the present conflict, which started after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed greater than 1,200 individuals, in keeping with an Israeli tally.

Gaza’s well being ministry says over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed because the 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.