Latest news with #IsraelForeignMinistry
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Israel detains Gaza Flotilla, deports Greta Thunberg: Recalling the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident
Israel's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday (June 10) announced it had deported Swedish activist Greta Thunberg a day after seizing the Madleen, the ship she was on. In a post on X, the Foreign Ministry wrote, 'Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France).' Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France). — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025 A British-flagged vessel, the Madleen set sail from Italy last week and carried aid for the people of war-torn Gaza. Twelve passengers, including Thunberg, were on board. It was backed by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an international movement aiming to end 'the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza'. Israel's relative restraint in detaining the passengers and moving to deport them marks a sharp contrast to what ensued when another FFC-backed ship, the Conscience, set out to deliver aid to Gaza last month. The ship faced a drone attack in international waters near Malta on May 2, and held Israel responsible. These actions are not unprecedented. In 2010, Israeli commandos shot dead 10 activists aboard the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, part of a 'freedom flotilla' carrying aid to Gaza in a similar effort. The news triggered international condemnation and strained relations between Israel and Turkey, who were allies at the time. Turkey condemned the Israeli detention of the Madleen on Monday, calling Israel a 'terrorist state', and the move a 'clear violation of international law'. The Mavi Marmara was one of six civilian ships which had set sail towards Gaza as part of the 'Gaza Freedom Flotilla': three of these, including the Mavi Marmara, were passenger ships carrying 748 people of 40 nationalities. The other three carried aid meant for Palestine, aiming to breach an Israeli and Egyptian blockade on Gaza. (The flotilla originally included two more ships, which faced engine issues ahead of their start, spurring rumours of Israeli sabotage.) The Israeli blockade has existed since the '90s, but these restrictions were intensified after Hamas gained control of Gaza in 2007. Egypt closed the Rafah crossing with Gaza that year. Physical barriers were erected around the 365 sq km Gaza Strip in Palestine's southwestern region. Additionally, Israel had maintained a naval blockade, preventing international ships from entering Gaza or local vessels from leaving the coastal waters. This was intensified in October 2023, following the Hamas attacks on Israel. Soon, Israel stopped the supply of food, water, fuel and electricity into Gaza. Israel briefly loosened the blockade this January following a US-brokered ceasefire, only to reinstate it in March, alleging ceasefire violations by Hamas. The Freedom Flotilla carried 10,000 tonnes of goods, including school supplies, building materials and two large electricity generators, according to a BBC report. This defied an Israeli directive banning the entry of a wide variety of goods to keep the pressure on Hamas. The flotilla sought to draw international attention to the blockade, which it described as illegal. The effort was spearheaded by the Free Gaza Movement, a coalition of pro-Palestinian groups challenging the Israeli blockade of Gaza, as well as the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH). Notably, Israel had identified the IHH as a terrorist organisation, closely linked to Hamas. Turkey refuted this view, treating it as a bona fide charity, and had urged Israel to allow the flotilla passage. Israel also wished to verify that the ships did not carry construction materials, weapons or cash. It reportedly asked the flotilla to dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod, and offered to transport all approved goods by road, according to the BBC report. So what happened on May 31, 2010? Before dawn broke on May 31, 2010, Israeli naval forces descended on the flotilla from helicopters and warships in international waters between Cyprus and the Gaza Coast. While the timeline is disputed, Israeli officials claimed their troops opened fire after first being attacked by some of the passengers, who 'charged them with knives and sticks and allegedly fired live rounds,' according to a 2010 report of the Financial Times. In the ensuing melee, nine activists aboard the Mavi Marmara were shot dead, and at least 50 other passengers were wounded, according to the 2010 UN Human Rights Council report, which investigated the incident. One of the wounded remained in a coma for four years before dying. All the deceased were Turkish nationals. Ten commandos were also reportedly injured in the attack. Israel-Turkey relations After Israel was carved out of then-Mandatory Palestine in 1948, Turkey became the first Muslim-majority country to recognise the nation a year later. However, the relations between the two have progressed in waves, with Turkey periodically expressing its support for Palestine's right to self-determination. The 2010 attack came during a fraught diplomatic period and saw bilateral relations devolve within just hours. Turkey recalled its ambassador from Israel, while Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then the Prime Minister, accused Israel of overseeing 'inhuman state terror'. Both countries hurled accusations over the following years, with Turkey demanding an apology from Israel, and Israel claiming it had a right to defend itself. However, efforts towards normalising relations unexpectedly commenced in 2013, with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu tendering an apology, and the two countries agreeing to a system of compensation for the victims' families. Relations were normalised in 2016. The two countries have since faced a very rocky relationship, with Israel's policy on Palestine remaining a flashpoint. In 2024, Turkey severed all diplomatic ties with Israel over its unwillingness to end its war in Gaza.
Global News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Global News
Greta Thunberg deported to France after Gaza-bound aid boat intercepted
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg departed Israel on a flight to France on Tuesday morning after being detained by Israeli forces, along with 11 other activists. She and the others were on an aid ship — the British-flagged yacht Madleen — headed for Gaza on Monday when they were intercepted. 'Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France),' Israel's foreign ministry wrote on X, sharing two photos of Thunberg on a plane. Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France). — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025 Story continues below advertisement When Thunberg landed at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris after being deported from Israel, she accused the country of 'kidnapping us in international waters and against our will bringing us to Israel, keeping us in the bottom of the boat.' 'This is yet another intentional violation of rights that is added to the list of countless other violations that Israel is committing,' Thunberg told reporters at the airport. Thunberg added that her experience was 'nothing compared to what the Palestinians are going through.' She said she wasn't able to 'say goodbye' to the other activists who were detained with her. 'I am very worried about them. We heard many different messages pointing towards that they would not make it easy and there were troubles with being able to see lawyers,' Thunberg told reporters. 'I'm very much calling for their immediate release and calling for everyone who can to mobilize to their government and other ways to demand their immediate release.' 3:11 'We have been intercepted': Greta Thunberg sends message as Gaza aid boat detained by IDF France said five of the six French citizens detained alongside Thunberg had refused to sign their deportation orders and would be subject to judicial proceedings. Story continues below advertisement The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the activist group operating the yacht, has demanded the immediate release of everyone detained. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Israel's Foreign Ministry referred to the boat as the 'Selfie Yacht,' and said the passengers 'arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries.' 'Some of the 'Selfie Yacht' passengers are expected to leave within the next few hours. Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation. Consuls from the passengers' home countries met them at the airport,' the ministry added. The passengers of the 'Selfie Yacht' arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries. Some of the 'Selfie Yacht' passengers are expected to leave within the next few hours. Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will… — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025 The boat, accompanied by Israel's navy, arrived in Ashdod on Monday evening, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry. It published a photo on social media of Thunberg after disembarking. Story continues below advertisement The 'Selfie Yacht' docked at Ashdod Port a short while ago. The passengers are currently undergoing medical examinations to ensure they are in good health. — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025 The 12 activists underwent medical checks to ensure they were in good health, the ministry said. They were expected to be held at a detention facility in Ramle before being deported, according to Adalah, a legal rights group representing them. The activists had set out to protest Israel's military campaign in Gaza and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage, said the activists were 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' while trying to deliver desperately needed aid. 'The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated,' it said in a statement. Story continues below advertisement It said the ship was seized in international waters about 200 kilometres from Gaza, and Adalah asserted that Israel had 'no legal authority' to take it over. Israel's Foreign Ministry portrayed the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying on social media that 'the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel.' Good morning to all our followers 🇮🇱☀️ In case you missed it: 🥪 The 'selfie yacht' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are safe and were provided with sandwiches and water, and are expected to return to their home countries. 🤏 The tiny amount of… — Israel ישראל (@Israel) June 9, 2025 It said the activists would return to their home countries and the aid would be sent to Gaza through established channels. It circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing life vests. 'This wasn't humanitarian aid. It's Instagram activism,' Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said. 'Meanwhile, Israel has delivered over 1,200 truckloads in the last two weeks. So who's really feeding Gaza and who's really feeding their own ego? Greta was not bringing aid, she was bringing herself.' Story continues below advertisement The Madleen set sail from Sicily a week ago. Along the way, it stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by Libya's coast guard, reports The Associated Press. 2:16 Greta Thunberg, activists set sail to Gaza after earlier aid vessel attacked at sea '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,' Thunberg said in a prerecorded message released after the ship was halted. Adalah, the rights group, said in a statement that 'the arrest of the unarmed activists, who operated in a civilian manner to provide humanitarian aid, amounts to a serious breach of international law.' — With files from The Associated Press
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Israel deports Greta Thunberg after seizing Gaza-bound ship
Israel has deported activist Greta Thunberg, the country's foreign ministry said, a day after the Gaza-bound ship she was travelling on was seized by the Israeli military. Ms Thunberg left on a flight to France before heading to her home country of Sweden, the foreign ministry posted on X. It added a photo of Thunberg, a climate activist who shuns air travel, seated on a plane. Speaking upon arrival at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, Ms Thunberg called for the release of the other activists who were detained aboard the Freedom Flotilla. She described a 'quite chaotic and uncertain' situation during the detention. The activist added the conditions they faced 'are absolutely nothing compared to what people are going through in Palestine and especially Gaza right now'. Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France). — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025 'We were well aware of the risks of this mission,' Ms Thunberg added. 'The aim was to get to Gaza and to be able to distribute the aid.' She said the activists would continue trying to get aid to Gaza. Ms Thunberg was one of 12 passengers on the Madleen, a ship carrying aid to Gaza that was meant to protest against Israel's ongoing war there and shed light on the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group behind the journey. Israeli naval forces seized the boat without incident early on Monday about 125 miles off of Gaza's coast, according to the coalition, which along with rights groups, said Israel's actions were a violation of international law. Israel rejects that charge because it says such ships intend to breach what it argues is a lawful naval blockade of Gaza. The boat, accompanied by Israel's navy, arrived in the Israeli port of Ashdod on Monday evening, according to the foreign ministry. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said three activists, including Ms Thunberg, had been deported along with a journalist. It said it had encouraged some of the group to do this so they could speak freely about their experiences. Eight other passengers refused deportation and were being held in detention before their case is to be heard by Israeli authorities. Adalah, a legal rights group in Israel representing the activists, said the eight were expected to be brought before a court later on Tuesday. 'Their detention is unlawful, politically motivated and a direct violation of international law,' the coalition said in a statement. It called for the remaining passengers to be released without deportation and said their lawyers would demand that they be allowed to complete their journey to Gaza. Sabine Haddad, a spokeswoman for Israel's interior ministry, said the activists who were being deported Tuesday had waived their right to appear before a judge. Those who did not will face one and will be held for 96 hours before being deported, she said.
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Israel deports Greta Thunberg after seizing Gaza-bound ship
Ms Thunberg left on a flight to France before heading to her home country of Sweden, the foreign ministry posted on X. It added a photo of Thunberg, a climate activist who shuns air travel, seated on a plane. Speaking upon arrival at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, Ms Thunberg called for the release of the other activists who were detained aboard the Freedom Flotilla. She described a 'quite chaotic and uncertain' situation during the detention. The activist added the conditions they faced 'are absolutely nothing compared to what people are going through in Palestine and especially Gaza right now'. Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France). — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025 'We were well aware of the risks of this mission,' Ms Thunberg added. 'The aim was to get to Gaza and to be able to distribute the aid.' She said the activists would continue trying to get aid to Gaza. Ms Thunberg was one of 12 passengers on the Madleen, a ship carrying aid to Gaza that was meant to protest against Israel's ongoing war there and shed light on the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group behind the journey. Israeli naval forces seized the boat without incident early on Monday about 125 miles off of Gaza's coast, according to the coalition, which along with rights groups, said Israel's actions were a violation of international law. Israel rejects that charge because it says such ships intend to breach what it argues is a lawful naval blockade of Gaza. The boat, accompanied by Israel's navy, arrived in the Israeli port of Ashdod on Monday evening, according to the foreign ministry. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said three activists, including Ms Thunberg, had been deported along with a journalist. It said it had encouraged some of the group to do this so they could speak freely about their experiences. Eight other passengers refused deportation and were being held in detention before their case is to be heard by Israeli authorities. Adalah, a legal rights group in Israel representing the activists, said the eight were expected to be brought before a court later on Tuesday. 'Their detention is unlawful, politically motivated and a direct violation of international law,' the coalition said in a statement. It called for the remaining passengers to be released without deportation and said their lawyers would demand that they be allowed to complete their journey to Gaza. Sabine Haddad, a spokeswoman for Israel's interior ministry, said the activists who were being deported Tuesday had waived their right to appear before a judge. Those who did not will face one and will be held for 96 hours before being deported, she said.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Israel deports Greta Thunberg after seizing Gaza-bound ship
Ms Thunberg left on a flight to France before heading to her home country of Sweden, the foreign ministry posted on X. It added a photo of Thunberg, a climate activist who shuns air travel, seated on a plane. Speaking upon arrival at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, Ms Thunberg called for the release of the other activists who were detained aboard the Freedom Flotilla. She described a 'quite chaotic and uncertain' situation during the detention. The activist added the conditions they faced 'are absolutely nothing compared to what people are going through in Palestine and especially Gaza right now'. Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France). — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025 'We were well aware of the risks of this mission,' Ms Thunberg added. 'The aim was to get to Gaza and to be able to distribute the aid.' She said the activists would continue trying to get aid to Gaza. Ms Thunberg was one of 12 passengers on the Madleen, a ship carrying aid to Gaza that was meant to protest against Israel's ongoing war there and shed light on the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group behind the journey. Israeli naval forces seized the boat without incident early on Monday about 125 miles off of Gaza's coast, according to the coalition, which along with rights groups, said Israel's actions were a violation of international law. Israel rejects that charge because it says such ships intend to breach what it argues is a lawful naval blockade of Gaza. The boat, accompanied by Israel's navy, arrived in the Israeli port of Ashdod on Monday evening, according to the foreign ministry. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said three activists, including Ms Thunberg, had been deported along with a journalist. It said it had encouraged some of the group to do this so they could speak freely about their experiences. Eight other passengers refused deportation and were being held in detention before their case is to be heard by Israeli authorities. Adalah, a legal rights group in Israel representing the activists, said the eight were expected to be brought before a court later on Tuesday. 'Their detention is unlawful, politically motivated and a direct violation of international law,' the coalition said in a statement. It called for the remaining passengers to be released without deportation and said their lawyers would demand that they be allowed to complete their journey to Gaza. Sabine Haddad, a spokeswoman for Israel's interior ministry, said the activists who were being deported Tuesday had waived their right to appear before a judge. Those who did not will face one and will be held for 96 hours before being deported, she said.
