Greta Thunberg Intercepted By Israel In Boat To Gaza
In the early hours of the morning, Greta Thunberg and members of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition were intercepted by Israeli forces.
Here's everything we know so far:
What is the Freedom Flotilla Coalition?
In their own words, they're "a grassroots people-to-people solidarity movement composed of campaigns and initiatives from different parts of the world, working together to end the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza." They've sent a number of boats to Gaza, which has had its land, sea, and air blockaded by Israel since 2007. Aid to Gaza has been severely limited recently, resulting in mass starvation. Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire en route to get food. Israel has maintained that "the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to unauthorized vessels under a legal naval blockade, consistent with international law."
What was going on with the Madleen?
Madleen is the name of the boat that set sail for Gaza on June 1. The ship contained emergency supplies, such as food, baby formula, and medical products. As Greta put it, 'We are seeing a systematic starvation of 2 million people. The world cannot be silent bystanders, Every single one of us has a moral obligation to do everything we can to fight for a free Palestine.'To a certain extent, the trip is symbolic. As Amnesty International's Secretary General notes, 'During its voyage over the past few days the Madleen's mission emerged as a powerful symbol of solidarity with besieged, starved and suffering Palestinians amid persistent international inaction. However, this very mission is also an indictment of the international community's failure to put an end to Israel's inhumane blockade. Activists would not have needed to risk their lives had Israel's allies translated their rhetoric into forceful action to allow aid into Gaza."
Who was on it?
12 people from various countries. This included Greta and European Parliament Member Rima Hassan, as well as a journalist.
How did people react to the mission?
Depends on who you ask. Senator Lindsey Graham posted, "Hope Greta and her friends can swim!" Critics have repeatedly referred to it as the "selfie yacht."
Were they doing anything illegal?
No. A number of UN experts called for safe passage of the boat and said, 'As the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's ship approaches Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, Israel must adhere to international law and comply with orders from the International Court of Justice to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid." Amnesty International has called the detention of the crew illegal.
What did Greta say about the boat being intercepted?
In a prerecorded message posted to her Instagram account, Greta said, "My name is Greta Thunberg and I am from Sweden. If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel. I urge all my friends, family, and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible."
The Israel Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, "The 'selfie yacht' carrying Greta Thunberg and the other so-called 'celebrities' is continuing its journey toward an Israeli port. Upon arrival, arrangements will be made for their return to their respective home countries." They further posted a video saying that the members of the ship were "safe and unharmed" and "provided with sandwiches and water." Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, further said they will be shown footage of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Israel has further claimed that "more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks" and "the tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels." It's worth noting that the UN has estimated that around 600 trucks would be needed daily.
How have foreign governments reacted?
French officials have called for the swift return of their citizens. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the incident "once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state." Spain has called on its top Israeli diplomat in Madrid.
We'll keep you posted with updates.
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