Greta Thunberg speaks to CNN on a boat sailing to Gaza
Greta Thunberg, Yasemin Acar and other activists are sailing to Gaza. The activist group they're apart of, The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, is attempting to bring aid and raise international awareness over the ongoing humanitarian crisis. In response, Israel says it is prepared for a "wide range of scenarios."
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Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Israel Will Block Greta Thunberg's Boat From Reaching Gaza: IDF Chief
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Israel's government has ordered the country's military to intercept the humanitarian ship carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists to Gaza and stop it from reaching the embattled territory. "I have instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act so that the Madleen does not reach Gaza, and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end," Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement published on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, referring to the vessel carrying the Swedish activist. Why It Matters Israel's 11-week blockade of aid into Gaza was condemned by activists, NGOs and even some of the country's closest allies, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government repeatedly ignored calls to ensure Palestinians in the occupied territory receive enough food and humanitarian assistance to avoid starvation. While Israel has recently allowed aid into Gaza under the management of U.S. contractors, the delivery of lifesaving essentials to the Palestinian population has been botched, with several people being killed by Israeli gunfire in a series of incidents at an aid distribution center. The U.N.'s humanitarian chief said that the aid allowed into the Gaza Strip now by Israel was just "a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed." Thunberg, possibly the most prominent climate activist in the world, is onboard the Madleen flotilla together with 15 other people to bring aid to Gaza directly, picking up where she says Western governments are failing. But the success of the humanitarian aid ship's mission is in doubt as the Israeli government shows a strong hostility to the activists' plan. What To Know According to the latest update provided by the crew aboard the ship, Thunberg and her fellow activists were getting closer to Gaza and had reached Egypt on Saturday after having left from Catania, Italy, a week ago. The activists, who come from several countries across Europe and the world, expect to broadcast their arrest once they reach Gaza. They may not make it that far, based on Katz's statement. Already the human rights group operating the ship, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), reported that drones have been flying over the vessel for hours. Greta Thunberg speaking at a press conference in Catania, Italy, on June 1, 2025. Greta Thunberg speaking at a press conference in Catania, Italy, on June 1, a video published on Instagram, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, who is aboard the ship, said that the activists' best defense is their visibility. "We are just 12 people here. We carry all the aid we can. We carry food, medicine, crutches. We carry prosthetics for amputated children. We carry water filters and everything else we could but, of course, it's a drop in the ocean for the necessities of Gaza," he said. "The best security measure we have is visibility. It is you sharing, you pressuring your nation states, pressuring your governments for them to pressure for a safe passage." A previous journey planned by the FFC, which should have picked up Thunberg in Malta, was canceled in early May after the group said the boat came under attack by drones in international waters near the Mediterranean island. What People Are Saying Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X: "To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas-propaganda spokespeople, I say clearly: You should turn back—because you will not reach Gaza. Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organizations—at sea, in the air, and on land." In a statement published on Instagram, Humanti Project, a grassroots collective advocating for Palestinian liberation, wrote: "The Madleen is sailing toward Gaza with unarmed civilian and humanitarian aid. Israel has threatened to attack. We must act now." It added: "The Flotilla is not a threat—it is a lifeline. The only threat here is Israel's brutal enforcement of a blockade, and its genocide of the Palestinian people that has turned Gaza into a death camp." In a recent video published on Instagram, Greta Thunberg said: "What is happening in Gaza right now is unprecedented, and we do not accept this genocide…There can be no climate justice on occupied land. No climate justice without social justice." She told Al Jazeera this week: "We will try to break the siege and open humanitarian corridors to Gaza. What Happens Next The situation is now critical in Gaza since Israeli authorities stopped humanitarian aid entering the territory 11 weeks ago. Netanyahu lifted the aid blockade saying that a "starvation crisis" would damage his country's global standing—but it remains to be seen how its reputation would be hit should the Israeli military use force to prevent Thunberg's ship from reaching Gaza.
CNBC
28 minutes ago
- CNBC
Israel vows to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching Gaza
Israel's government on Sunday vowed to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching the Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel wouldn't allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms. "To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza," he said in a statement. Thunberg, a climate campaigner, is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vessel departed Sicily last Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis 20 months into the Israel-Hamas war. The activists had said they planned to reach Gaza's territorial waters as early as Sunday. Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist on board the boat, posted a video on social media Sunday afternoon saying someone appeared to be jamming their tracking and communication devices about 160 nautical miles from Gaza. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. After a 2 1/2-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Critics of the blockade say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians. Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but later relented under U.S. pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine. Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid.
Chicago Tribune
33 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Israel vows to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching Gaza
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel's government on Sunday vowed to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching the Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel wouldn't allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms. 'To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza,' he said in a statement. Thunberg, a climate campaigner, is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vessel departed Sicily last Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis 20 months into the Israel-Hamas war. The activists had said they planned to reach Gaza's territorial waters as early as Sunday. Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist on board the boat, posted a video on social media Sunday afternoon saying someone appeared to be jamming their tracking and communication devices about 160 nautical miles from Gaza. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. After a 2½-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Critics of the blockade say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians. Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but later relented under U.S. pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine. Hamas killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid.
