Israeli military board Thunberg's Gaza-bound ship
Israeli military board Thunberg's Gaza-bound ship
Activist Greta Thunberg and crew stand aboard the aid ship Madleen, which left the Italian port of Catania on June 1. File photo: Reuters
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said early on Monday that the Israeli military had "boarded" the Gaza-bound charity ship the Madleen.
Connections have been lost on the ship, the coalition added in a post on Telegram.
Earlier, the Israeli foreign ministry said its navy was communicating with the Madleen, instructing it to change its course as it approached a restricted area.
The ministry referred to the ship as "selfie yacht" in a post on X.
Before the Coalition lost contact with its vessel, it said quadcopters were surrounding the Madleen and spraying it with a 'white irritant substance'.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz told the military on Sunday to stop the charity boat, which is carrying activists - including Sweden's Greta Thunberg - planning to defy an Israeli blockade and reach Gaza.
The British-flagged Madleen yacht set sail from Sicily on June 6.
"I instructed the IDF to act so that the Madleen... does not reach Gaza," Katz said in a statement.
"To the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-propaganda-spouting friends, I say clearly: You'd better turn back, because you will not reach Gaza."
Climate activist Thunberg said she joined the Madleen crew to "challenge Israel's illegal siege and escalating war crimes" in Gaza and highlight the urgent need for humanitarian aid. She has rejected previous Israeli accusations of antisemitism.
Israel went to war with Hamas in October 2023 after the Islamist militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing more 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies.
More than 54,000 Palestinians have died during the ongoing Israeli assault, according to Gaza health authorities, with much of the Palestinian territory reduced to rubble.
The United Nations has warned that most of Gaza's 2.3 million population is at risk of famine.
Katz said the blockade was essential to Israel's national security as it seeks to eliminate Hamas.
Besides Thunberg, there are 11 other crew members aboard, including Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. (Reuters)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Trump's new travel ban takes effect, citizens of 12 nations barred from US
US President Donald Trump's sweeping new travel ban came into effect early Monday immediately after midnight, barring citizens from a dozen nations from entering the United States and reviving a divisive measure from his first term. Advertisement The move is expected to disrupt refugee pathways and further restrict immigration as the Trump administration expands its crackdown on illegal entries. Many of the nations covered by the restrictions have adversarial relations with the United States, such as Iran and Afghanistan, while others face severe crises, like Haiti and Libya. In announcing his restrictions last week , Trump said the new measure was spurred by a recent 'terrorist attack' on Jews in Colorado. The group had been protesting in solidarity with hostages held in Gaza when they were assaulted by a man the White House said had overstayed his visa.
RTHK
6 hours ago
- RTHK
Israeli military board Thunberg's Gaza-bound ship
Israeli military board Thunberg's Gaza-bound ship Activist Greta Thunberg and crew stand aboard the aid ship Madleen, which left the Italian port of Catania on June 1. File photo: Reuters The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said early on Monday that the Israeli military had "boarded" the Gaza-bound charity ship the Madleen. Connections have been lost on the ship, the coalition added in a post on Telegram. Earlier, the Israeli foreign ministry said its navy was communicating with the Madleen, instructing it to change its course as it approached a restricted area. The ministry referred to the ship as "selfie yacht" in a post on X. Before the Coalition lost contact with its vessel, it said quadcopters were surrounding the Madleen and spraying it with a 'white irritant substance'. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz told the military on Sunday to stop the charity boat, which is carrying activists - including Sweden's Greta Thunberg - planning to defy an Israeli blockade and reach Gaza. The British-flagged Madleen yacht set sail from Sicily on June 6. "I instructed the IDF to act so that the Madleen... does not reach Gaza," Katz said in a statement. "To the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-propaganda-spouting friends, I say clearly: You'd better turn back, because you will not reach Gaza." Climate activist Thunberg said she joined the Madleen crew to "challenge Israel's illegal siege and escalating war crimes" in Gaza and highlight the urgent need for humanitarian aid. She has rejected previous Israeli accusations of antisemitism. Israel went to war with Hamas in October 2023 after the Islamist militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing more 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies. More than 54,000 Palestinians have died during the ongoing Israeli assault, according to Gaza health authorities, with much of the Palestinian territory reduced to rubble. The United Nations has warned that most of Gaza's 2.3 million population is at risk of famine. Katz said the blockade was essential to Israel's national security as it seeks to eliminate Hamas. Besides Thunberg, there are 11 other crew members aboard, including Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. (Reuters)
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Freedom Flotilla Coalition says alarm sounded on its Gaza-bound aid ship
The alarm has been sounded on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's Gaza-bound ship the Madleen, and passengers and crew have put on life jackets preparing for an interception, the coalition said on Monday. Advertisement The humanitarian boat with 12 activists on board – including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg – will continue its journey 'until the last minute', campaigners had said earlier on Sunday, after Israel ordered its military to block the vessel. 'We'll stay mobilised until the last minute – until Israel cuts the internet and networks,' European Parliament member Rima Hassan told Agence France-Presse from the boat. The Madleen left Sicily last week with a cargo of relief supplies to 'break Israel's blockade on Gaza' where the war between Israel and Hamas has entered its 21st month. 'There are twelve of us civilians on board. We are not armed. There is only humanitarian aid,' Hassan said. Advertisement Earlier in the day, Israel's defence minister Israel Katz ordered the military to block the boat from reaching the Palestinian territory.
