Greta Thunberg to deliver Gaza aid through civilian flotilla

Greta Thunberg announced on August 10th that she will be joining a new multi-vessel flotilla that is set to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to Middle East Eye.

On August 31st, she will join a fleet composed of several boats, called the Global Sumud Flotilla. This is the third attempt made by global activists to provide humanitarian aid for Gaza. Israel prevented two previous attempts, in which the aid was attempting to travel through international waters. 

Thunberg was one of the 12 activists that were on the the Madleen, a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying baby formula, nappies, women’s sanitary products, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches, and children’s prosthetics. The Madleen set sail from Sicily on June 1st. However, on June 8th, Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla. The activist passengers posted recorded videos on X, in which they said they were “kidnapped”.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was involved in the matter. He had ordered the military to prevent the ship from making it to Gaza. He also commented, stating that the expedition was a propaganda campaign which intends to strengthen Hamas.

Activists on the Handala in July had a similar experience. The activists, who had the same purpose of delivering humanitarian aid, were unlawfully detained and brought to Israel. This included US labour organiser Chris Smalls, who said he was physically assaulted by Israeli soldiers. He also confirmed that he was held in an Israeli jail for five days.

Aside from preventing international activists from delivering humanitarian aid, Israel has used other means to limit the amount of aid being received by those struggling in Gaza. Previously, Israeli forces opened fire on people near an aid site in central Gaza, killing 23 Palestinians. The distribution site was operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Middle East Eye, Maghrebi.org