Thunberg accuses Israel of kidnap after Gaza aid boat intercepted - War on Gaza
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday accused Israel of "kidnapping us in international waters and taking us against our will to Israel" after security forces intercepted a boat carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza.
"This is yet another intentional violation of rights that is added to the list of countless other violations that Israel is committing," Thunberg, 22, told reporters on arrival at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris after being deported from Israel.
She stressed that her own experience was "nothing compared to what the Palestinians are going through".
Of the 12 people on board the Madleen carrying food and supplies for Gaza, five French activists were taken into custody after they refused to leave Israel voluntarily.
But Thunberg, who rose to fame as a schoolgirl activist against climate change and seeks to avoid flying because of its environmental impact, was deported by Israel on a commercial flight of national airline El Al bound for Paris.
"This is not the real story. The real story is there is a genocide going on in Gaza and systematic starvation," said Thunberg.
Several rights groups including Amnesty International have accused Israel of genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza.
The vessel carrying French, German, Brazilian, Turkish, Swedish, Spanish and Dutch activists had the stated aim of delivering humanitarian aid and breaking the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory.
Israel intercepted the Madleen about 185 kilometres (115 miles) west of the coast of Gaza.
Thunberg said what happened to the vessel was a "continuation and violation of international law and war crimes that are being systematically committed by Israel by not letting aid in" to Gaza.
"This was a mission of attempting to once again bring aid to Gaza and send solidarity. And saw we cannot," she said.
She also denounced what she termed the "silence and passivity" of governments worldwide over what was taking place in Gaza.
"There are no words to describe the betrayal that is happening every day by our own governments," she said.
Admitting she was "desperately in need of a shower", Thunberg vowed to carry on her campaign. "We will not stop. We will try every single day to demand an end to the atrocities Israel is carrying out".
At least 54,981 people, the majority women and children, have been killed in the territory since the start of Israel's war.
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East
2 hours ago
- Middle East
OPEN// Foreign ministry stresses need to comply with Gaza border visit regulations
CAIRO, June 11 (MENA) - Egypt has welcomed the official and popular international and regional positions supporting Palestinian rights and rejecting the blockade, starvation tactics, and systematic and flagrant Israeli violations against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates affirmed that Egypt continues to work at all levels to end the aggression on Gaza and to bring an end to the humanitarian catastrophe impacting more than two million Palestinians. In this context and in light of recent requests and inquiries regarding visits by foreign delegations to the border areas adjacent to Gaza, especially Arish City and Rafah border crossing, Egypt stresses the necessity of obtaining prior approvals to conduct such visits, the ministry said. The only acceptable way for Egyptian authorities to consider these requests is by adhering to the regulatory framework and procedures established since the start of the war on Gaza, according to the statement. This includes submitting official requests to Egyptian embassies abroad, or through requests submitted by foreign embassies in Cairo or representatives of organizations to the foreign ministry, it said. Numerous visits have already been arranged for foreign delegations either representing governmental bodies or non-governmental human rights organizations, the ministry said. 'Egypt underlines the importance of adhering to these established regulations to ensure the safety of visiting delegations given the sensitive and volatile nature of the border area since the beginning of the Gaza crisis.' 'In this regard, Egypt reaffirms that no requests will be considered nor any invitations will be responded to if they fall outside the approved regulatory framework and established mechanisms,' the statement said. 'Egypt also underlines the importance that all foreign nationals must comply with Egyptian laws and entry regulations, including obtaining the necessary visas or pre-approved permits. 'Finally, Egypt reiterates its unwavering stance in support of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land and its rejection of Israel's blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law. 'It further stresses the importance of exerting pressure on Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza and to allow humanitarian access through all Israeli-controlled crossings with the Strip.' (MENA) M A A/S R E/R E E
See - Sada Elbalad
3 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Three Winning Technological Projects at ICESCO Youth Training Program
Mohamed Mandour The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded its program on training youth on setting up and developing small projects in the fields of technology and innovation in the Republic of Sierra Leone. The close of the training program, implemented by ICESCO's Science and Environment Sector, in partnership with the Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, was marked by the announcement of three winning projects, out of the 49 participating teams at the national level. During the two-day event, contestants presented their projects before a jury. During his remarks at the opening session, Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at the Sector of Science and Environment, stressed the importance of integrating the youth of the Islamic world in the fields of entrepreneurship, modern technology and innovation to contribute to achieving sustainable development in their communities. Winning first place, the Mamawa Muyengay Agric Business team presented their project to integrate and improve the living conditions of youth, women and the elderly in rural areas through building their capacities in the fields of cassava farming. The second place went to Mujehva Plastic and Sand Paving Enterprise, for their projects to recycle plastic to make sustainable pavements, while the third place went to MS Agro Rice Farming, a project dedicated to rice farming in inland valleys to promote best practices in the field of agriculture. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
See - Sada Elbalad
3 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egypt Stresses Need to Adhere to Regulatory Controls for Visiting Border Area Adjacent to Gaza
Taarek Refaat Egypt welcomed the international and regional positions, both official and popular, in support of Palestinian rights and in rejection of the blockade, starvation, and blatant and systematic Israeli violations against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration affirmed, in a press statement, Wednesday, said that Egypt will continue to work at all levels to end the aggression on the Strip and the humanitarian catastrophe that has befallen more than two million Palestinians. In this context, and in light of the requests and inquiries regarding foreign delegations visiting the border area adjacent to Gaza (the city of Arish and the Rafah crossing) during the recent period; in order to express support for Palestinian rights, Egypt emphasizes the necessity of obtaining prior approval for such visits, and that the only way for Egyptian authorities to continue considering such requests is by following the regulatory controls and mechanisms in place since the beginning of the war on Gaza. These include submitting an official request to Egyptian embassies abroad, or through requests submitted by foreign embassies in Cairo or representatives of organizations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It should be noted that numerous visits have already been arranged for foreign delegations, both governmental and from human rights non-governmental organizations. Egypt emphasizes the importance of adhering to these regulatory controls, which have been put in place to ensure the security of visiting delegations due to the delicate situation in the border area since the beginning of the Gaza crisis. In this regard, it emphasizes that no requests will be considered or invitations will be responded to outside the framework defined by the regulatory controls and mechanisms in place. Egypt also emphasizes the importance of citizens of all countries adhering to the laws and regulations governing entry into Egyptian territory, including obtaining prior and regulated visas or permits. Egypt emphasized its unwavering support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land and its rejection of Israel's flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law. It also emphasized the importance of pressuring Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian access through all Israeli roads and crossings into the Strip. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
