Israeli military ‘has boarded Greta Thunberg's boat'
The Israeli military has boarded Greta Thunberg's aid boat to stop it reaching the Gaza Strip, her supporters have claimed.
Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group assisting the activists aboard the Madleen sailboat, reported losing contact with the vessel shortly after 1am BST.
The crew had earlier reported that drones were flying above them and spraying a chemical.
'The Madleen is currently under assault in international waters,' the Freedom Flotilla Coalition wrote on Telegram.
'Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white irritant substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio.'
Thunberg, the prominent climate campaigner, was one of a dozen activists to set sail from Sicily a week ago on a boat carrying food and medical supplies, with the aim of breaking Israel's sea blockade of Gaza.
On Sunday, Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, vowed to 'take whatever measures necessary' to stop her vessel docking in the war-ravaged territory.
'You should turn back – because you will not reach Gaza,' Mr Katz said, addressing the 22-year-old Thunberg directly, and describing her and her companions as 'the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propaganda spokespeople'.
He went on: 'I have instructed the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) to act so that the 'Madeleine' hate flotilla does not reach the shores of Gaza – and to take any means necessary to that end.
'Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organisations – at sea, in the air and on land.'
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