Gaza bound aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg boarded by Israel

Overnight on June 8th, Israeli forces intercepted and boarded a ship heading to Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and 12 activists, including the climate justice activist Greta Thunberg, according to The National.

The Madleen’s cargo includes rice, baby formula and medical supplies, and was being boarded by 12 activists, who are part of a group called Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

The group did not expect to make it past Israel’s naval blockade. The expedition was a symbolic attempt to stop the aid blockade and raise awareness for the ongoing food and aid crisis in Gaza. On May 15th the group shared on X that the Madleen would be carrying a “cargo of hope and humanitarian aid”.

In early March Israel halted the delivery of food, medical supplies and fuel into Gaza. Its intention was to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages, but international pressure led to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement on May 18th that the blockade would be partially lifted, according to Asharq Al-Awsat and reported by Maghrebi.

However, there are still 1.3 million people in Gaza who are in need of food supplies. This prompted the expedition from Gaza Freedom Flotilla, whose crew members say they are unarmed civilians who pose no threat.

According to The National, on June 9th the Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, ordered the military to stop the ship from reaching Gaza, and said the expedition was a propaganda initiative to bolster Hamas.

Katz also ordered for the activists aboard the Madleen to be shown footage from the 2023 October 7th attacks. “It is appropriate that the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organization they came to support and for whom they are working,” he said.

Late at night on June 8th, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla posted on Telegram that the ship had been stopped by Israeli forces. “Connection has been lost on the Madleen,” it wrote. It added: “Israeli army have boarded the vessel.” The group also posted re-recorded videos on X  from the passengers to say that they had been “kidnapped”.

Israel’s foreign ministry also posted on X, describing the ship as “selfie yacht” and the crew as “celebrities”. To challenge the crew’s post about being kidnapped, the foreign ministry posted that “the passengers are expected to return to their home countries,” and later added that the passengers were safe and unharmed. “They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.”

In addressing the humanitarian aid that the ship carried, the foreign ministry stated: “The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the ‘celebrities’ will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels.”

According to Maghrebi on June 8th, as reported by Al-Monitor via AFP reported on June 6th, investigations into French-Israeli group members over the obstruction of Gaza aid had been launched. It was highlighted that the International Court of Justice has issued three orders this year calling on Israel to proceed with all necessary steps to stop genocide in Gaza, including ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The National, Maghrebi, Al-Monitor via AFP