Latest news with #aidboat
CNN
2 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Israel vows to stop aid boat with Greta Thunberg and other activists on board from reaching Gaza
Israel vowed on Sunday to stop an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists on board from reaching Gaza. As of Sunday evening, the UK-flagged civilian vessel was north of Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea, slowly approaching the coast of Gaza. The 'Madleen' is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an organization that has campaigned against Israel's blockade of Gaza and tried to break the siege by boat. 'We know that it's a very risky mission and we know that previous experiences with flotillas like this have resulted in attacks, violence and even cases of death,' Thunberg told CNN on Saturday. 'But of course none of those risks are even remotely as high as the risk that Palestinians are facing everyday just by trying to survive.' Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, would not make it to the besieged enclave. 'I have instructed the IDF to ensure that the 'Madleen' flotilla does not reach Gaza,' said Katz in a statement, referring to the name of the ship. Katz warned the ship that 'you'd better turn back – because you will not reach Gaza.' Thunberg and the Madleen expect to reach Gaza within the next day, organizer Yasemin Acar told CNN on Saturday. 'We are still on our way to Gaza. There's no turning back, and we're hoping to make it into Gaza within two days,' Acar said. The coalition campaigns to end Israel's blockade of Gaza and has tried to reach the enclave several times in the past After an 11-week blockade that prevented any humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, Israel has begun allowing a trickle of aid in once again. But it is only a fraction of the aid that entered the enclave before the war, with humanitarian organizations warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis and the growing risk of widespread famine. Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, said on social media that the flotilla carries more than food. 'It is not only the aid, it is the HUMANITY THEY CARRY. For all of us,' she said. The crew, which has publicized the location of the ship with an online tracker, began preparing for the possibility of interception by the Israeli military. Among those joining the crew are Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, and 'Game of Thrones' actor Liam Cunningham. 'From both a legal and moral standpoint, Israel has no right to intercept this vessel,' the group said in a statement. 'The people of Gaza, under siege, starving, and facing the threat of annihilation, have the legal right to decide who enters their territories.' Last month, another vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition came under what its organizers said was an Israeli drone attack off the coast of Malta in international waters. The group did not provide evidence that the drone was Israeli, while the Israeli military has declined to comment on the alleged attack. The ship, the 'Conscience,' was heading to Malta, where a large contingent of activists were due to board before it departed for Gaza, more than 1,000 miles away, but had not made it into port, the group said. The coalition told CNN that Thunberg was among those who were expected to board the vessel in Malta.
CNN
3 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Israel vows to stop aid boat with Greta Thunberg and other activists on board from reaching Gaza
Israel vowed on Sunday to stop an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists on board from reaching Gaza. As of Sunday evening, the UK-flagged civilian vessel was north of Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea, slowly approaching the coast of Gaza. The 'Madleen' is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an organization that has campaigned against Israel's blockade of Gaza and tried to break the siege by boat. 'We know that it's a very risky mission and we know that previous experiences with flotillas like this have resulted in attacks, violence and even cases of death,' Thunberg told CNN on Saturday. 'But of course none of those risks are even remotely as high as the risk that Palestinians are facing everyday just by trying to survive.' Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, would not make it to the besieged enclave. 'I have instructed the IDF to ensure that the 'Madleen' flotilla does not reach Gaza,' said Katz in a statement, referring to the name of the ship. Katz warned the ship that 'you'd better turn back – because you will not reach Gaza.' Thunberg and the Madleen expect to reach Gaza within the next day, organizer Yasemin Acar told CNN on Saturday. 'We are still on our way to Gaza. There's no turning back, and we're hoping to make it into Gaza within two days,' Acar said. The coalition campaigns to end Israel's blockade of Gaza and has tried to reach the enclave several times in the past After an 11-week blockade that prevented any humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, Israel has begun allowing a trickle of aid in once again. But it is only a fraction of the aid that entered the enclave before the war, with humanitarian organizations warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis and the growing risk of widespread famine. Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, said on social media that the flotilla carries more than food. 'It is not only the aid, it is the HUMANITY THEY CARRY. For all of us,' she said. The crew, which has publicized the location of the ship with an online tracker, began preparing for the possibility of interception by the Israeli military. Among those joining the crew are Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, and 'Game of Thrones' actor Liam Cunningham. 'From both a legal and moral standpoint, Israel has no right to intercept this vessel,' the group said in a statement. 'The people of Gaza, under siege, starving, and facing the threat of annihilation, have the legal right to decide who enters their territories.' Last month, another vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition came under what its organizers said was an Israeli drone attack off the coast of Malta in international waters. The group did not provide evidence that the drone was Israeli, while the Israeli military has declined to comment on the alleged attack. The ship, the 'Conscience,' was heading to Malta, where a large contingent of activists were due to board before it departed for Gaza, more than 1,000 miles away, but had not made it into port, the group said. The coalition told CNN that Thunberg was among those who were expected to board the vessel in Malta.
Sky News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
IDF told to 'take whatever measures necessary' to stop Greta Thunberg aid boat from reaching Gaza
Israel's defence minister has threatened to "take whatever measures necessary" to stop an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza. The climate campaigner, 22, is one of a dozen activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily last Sunday on a mission aiming to break Israel 's sea blockade. The activists have said they plan to reach Gaza 's territorial waters as early as Sunday to deliver humanitarian aid. But in a post on X, Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said he has instructed the IDF to prevent the vessel reaching the shore and to "take whatever measures necessary". Addressing Thunberg and the other activists, he said: "You should turn back - because you will not reach Gaza." He wrote: "I have instructed the IDF to act so that the 'Madeleine' hate flotilla does not reach the shores of Gaza - and to take any means necessary to that end. "To the anti-Semitic 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." 2:38 Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, who is of Palestinian descent, is also on the boat, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israel's policies towards Palestinians. Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month after a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas and preventing the group from importing arms. But humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless there is an end to the blockade and the 20-month war, which was ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 Oct 2023. 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.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel's defence minister vows to stop aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza
Israel's defence minister has threatened to "take whatever measures necessary" to stop an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza. The climate campaigner, 22, is one of a dozen activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily last Sunday on a mission aiming to break Israel's sea blockade. The activists have said they plan to reach Gaza's territorial waters as early as Sunday to deliver humanitarian aid. But in a post on X, Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said he has instructed the IDF to prevent the vessel reaching shore and to "take whatever measures necessary". Addressing Thunberg and the other activists, he said: "You should turn back - because you will not reach Gaza." He wrote: "I have instructed the IDF to act so that the "Madeleine" hate flotilla does not reach the shores of Gaza - and to take any means necessary to that end. "To the anti-Semitic 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." Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, who is of Palestinian descent, is also onboard the boat, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israel's policies towards Palestinians. Read more from Sky News:'The only people I've ever seen in Gaza with weapons are the IDF,' says British surgeonRussia claims troops reach new Ukrainian regionIsrael started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month after a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas and preventing the group from importing arms. But humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless there is an end to the blockade and the 20-month war, which was ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 Oct 2023. 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.
Sky News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Israel's defence minister vows to stop aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza
Israel's defence minister has threatened to "take whatever measures necessary" to stop an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza. The climate campaigner, 22, is one of a dozen activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily last Sunday on a mission aiming to break Israel's sea blockade. The activists have said they plan to reach Gaza's territorial waters as early as Sunday to deliver humanitarian aid. But in a post on X, Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said he has instructed the IDF to prevent the vessel reaching shore and to "take whatever measures necessary". Addressing Thunberg and the other activists, he said: "You should turn back - because you will not reach Gaza." He wrote: "I have instructed the IDF to act so that the "Madeleine" hate flotilla does not reach the shores of Gaza - and to take any means necessary to that end. "To the anti-Semitic 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."
