Israeli forces board aid boat bound for Gaza, Freedom Flotilla Coalition says
Israeli forces have boarded a charity vessel attempting to reach Gaza in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said.
The British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian FFC, had departed from Sicily on 6 June and had hoped to reach Gaza later in the day, when the interception occurred, the group said on its Telegram account.
Among those on board the boat are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Shortly before the FFC statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a video on X showing the Israeli Navy communicating with the Madleen over a loudspeaker, urging it to change course.
"The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade," a soldier said. "If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the (Israeli) port of Ashdod."
The yacht, with its 12-person crew, was carrying a symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.
The blockade has remained in place through multiple conflicts, including the current war, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally.
Gaza's health ministry says over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign. The United Nations has warned that most of Gaza's more than two million residents are facing famine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
33 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Greta Thunberg deported from Israel after Gaza-bound aid ship seized
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg departed Israel on Tuesday after being detained aboard the Madleen, a Gaza- bound aid ship intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters, the Israeli foreign ministry said. Ms Thunberg was on a flight to France, where she would continue her journey to Sweden, the ministry said. She was one of 12 passengers on board the Madleen, a UK-flagged boat carrying aid destined for people in Gaza. Others included French MEP Rima Hassan and the Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad. The Madleen, operated by a pro-Palestinian activist group called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters on Monday, some 200km from Gaza. READ MORE The ship was brought to the port of Ashdod in Israel where the crew was to be held ahead of deportation and its symbolic cargo of humanitarian aid seized. Adalah, a legal rights group in Israel representing Ms Thunberg and the other activists, said she and three others had agreed to be deported. The remaining activists refused deportation, were being held in detention and their case were set to be heard by Israeli authorities, the group said. The activists said they were protesting against the ongoing war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel says such ships violate its naval blockade of Gaza. The coalition leads an international grassroots campaign that opposes Israel's long-standing naval blockade of Gaza by sending ships filled with humanitarian aid to the enclave. The Madleen had set sail from Sicily earlier this month. 'The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo – including baby formula, food and medical supplies – confiscated,' it said. Israel had vowed to prevent the ship from reaching Gaza, saying that its military would use any means to stop it from breaching the blockade. The foreign ministry said Monday that the Madleen had been diverted toward Israeli shores. The coalition said its activists had been 'kidnapped' by the Israeli military. United Nations special rapporteur Francesca Albanese called for the crew to be released 'immediately'. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said he had instructed that upon the boat's arrival at Ashdod, the activists would be shown videos of atrocities committed during the October 7th, 2023 Hamas -led attack on southern Israel. About 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, and 250 taken to Gaza, where 55 are still held hostage, in the attacks, which triggered the ongoing conflict in Gaza, in which some 54,000 people have been killed.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Greta Thunberg among activists deported from Israel, after Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen intercepted in international waters
LATEST | Israel swiftly deports 12-strong crew of charity boatIsrael's navy had prevented boat from breaking Gaza blockadeVessel aimed to deliver aid, raise awareness of Gaza crisis Swedish activist Greta Thunberg departed Israel on Tuesday after being detained aboard the Madleen, a Gaza-bound aid ship intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters, the Israeli foreign ministry said. Thunberg was on a flight to France, where she would continue her journey to Sweden, the ministry said.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Greta Thunberg DEPORTED by Israel after ‘Freedom Flotilla' Gaza stunt as she's loaded on plane & sent to France
GRETA Thunberg is being deported after Israel detained her along with other activists on board the "Freedom Flotilla" stunt ship. Israel's foreign ministry shared a photo of Thunberg on a plane, saying she was headed for France. Advertisement 2 Activist Greta Thunberg is being deported from Israel Credit: X/@IsraelWarRoom 2 Greta Thunberg has arrived on dry land Credit: IsraelMFA Thunberg, 22, was one of 12 passengers on board the British-flagged Madleen - a boat carrying aid destined for people in war-torn Gaza. The Swedish eco warrior was taken to dry land yesterday after Israeli authorities seized the yacht. Adalah, a legal rights group in Israel representing Thunberg and the other activists, said Thunberg, two other activists and a journalist had agreed to be deported and leave Israel. Other activists refused deportation, were being held in detention, and their case was set to be heard by Israeli authorities. Advertisement Israel accused the group who were aboard the boat of The activists said they were protesting the ongoing war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel says such ships violate its naval blockade of Gaza. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at Advertisement Most read in The US Sun
