Israel orders military to stop Gaza-bound 'antisemitic' Greta Thunberg
Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has directed the military to stop a charity boat heading toward Gaza. The boat, named Madleen, is operated the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and carries 12 crew members, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.The British-flagged vessel left Sicily on June 6 and is currently sailing off the coast of Egypt, planning to defy an Israeli blockade and reach Gaza.advertisement"I instructed the IDF to act so that the Madleen ... does not reach Gaza," Katz said.
"To the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-propaganda-spouting friends, I say clearly: You'd better turn back, because you will not reach Gaza," he added.Thunberg joined the mission to protest to challenge Israel's "illegal siege and escalating war crimes" in Gaza. She has also denied past accusations of antisemitism.ISRAEL CITES SECURITY REASONS FOR GAZA BLOCKADEIsrael's conflict with Hamas began in October 2023 after a surprise Hamas attack killed over 1,200 people. According to Israeli reports, Hamas also took 251 hostages back to the enclave. Since then, Israeli forces have been attacking Gaza, where health officials say over 54,000 Palestinians have died.The infrastructure in the region has been destroyed, and the United Nations has warned that Gaza's 2.3 million people is facing the risk of famine.advertisementDefence Minister Katz said the naval blockade is critical to stop weapons from reaching Hamas."The State of Israel will not allow anyone to break the naval blockade on Gaza, whose primary purpose is to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas," he said.According to FFC, Madleen is carrying only a small amount of aid, including rice and baby formula. A press officer for the group, said that the yacht was about 160 nautical miles (roughly 296 km) from Gaza. "We are preparing for the possibility of interception," she added as per news agency Reuters.Along with Thunberg and others, the crew includes French European Parliament member Rima Hassan.Israeli media reports claimed that if the boat reaches Israeli waters, the military will escort it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The crew including activists would then be deported.With inputs from Reuters
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NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
"You Better Turn Back": Israel Warns Greta Thunberg On Gaza-Bound Yacht
JERUSALEM: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told the military on Sunday to stop a charity boat carrying activists, including Sweden's Greta Thunberg, who are planning to defy an Israeli blockade and reach Gaza. Operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the British-flagged Madleen yacht set sail from Sicily on June 6 and is currently off the Egyptian coast, heading slowly towards the Gaza Strip, which is besieged by Israel. "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 operatives 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 UN 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. "The State of Israel will not allow anyone to break the naval blockade on Gaza, whose primary purpose is to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas," he said. The Madleen is carrying a symbolic quantity of aid, including rice and baby formula, the FFC has said. FFC press officer Hay Sha Wiya said on Sunday the boat was currently some 160 nautical miles (296 km) from Gaza. "We are preparing for the possibility of interception," she said. Besides Thunberg, there are 11 other crew members aboard, including Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. Israeli media have reported that the military plans to intercept the yacht before it reaches Gaza and escort it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The crew would then be deported. In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 people when they boarded a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, that was leading a small flotilla towards Gaza.
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From The Hindu, June 9, 1925: Theft of German colonies
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