Israel orders military to stop Greta Thunberg's boat
Israel has ordered its military to stop Greta Thunberg's aid boat from reaching the Gaza Strip.
Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, vowed to 'take whatever measures necessary' to stop the 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 climate campaigner 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.'
Ms Thunberg is one of a dozen activists aboard the Madleen sailboat, which left Sicily last Sunday carrying food and medical supplies with the aim of breaking Israel's sea blockade of Gaza.
The group of activists said they were hoping to reach Gazan waters as early as today in order to deliver aid to Palestinians.
Speaking to CNN from the Madleen on Saturday, Ms Thunberg said she knew the 'mission' was risky and that she could be attacked or even killed.
'None of those risks are even remotely as high as the risks Palestinians are facing every day just by trying to survive,' she said.
'Right now, the mission is to get to Gaza to distribute the humanitarian aid we are carrying but we are well aware of the risks going there.'
She added: 'We are sailing on international waters and bringing humanitarian aid. If [Israel] stops this humanitarian aid, that is a crime. We are not doing anything wrong here…we are doing our part to try to break the siege in Gaza.'
Ms Thunberg is one of 12 activists on the trip. Others include Thiago Avila, a Brazilian campaigner, and Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament.
The sailing boat is operated by the activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
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