A Gaza-bound help boat carrying Greta Thunberg and different activists has been diverted to Israel, the nation’s overseas ministry has stated.
In a submit on X, it stated the British-flagged yacht Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), “is safely making its way to the shores of Israel”.
“The passengers are expected to return to their home countries,” Israel’s overseas ministry stated, including that the humanitarian help aboard the ship can be transferred to Gaza by means of established channels.
The ministry later stated all of the passengers had been secure and unhurt, sharing footage of the activists being handed sandwiches and water. Ms Thunberg was “safe and in good spirits” whereas en path to Israel, it added.
Picture:
Ms Thunberg and different activists after their boat was diverted to Israel. Pic: Israel Overseas Ministry
The FFC claimed the passengers on the yacht had been “kidnapped by Israeli forces” and launched pre-recorded messages from them after beforehand saying that the “Israeli army had boarded” the vessel.
Local weather campaigner Ms Thunberg, 22, was one in every of a dozen activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily on 1 Might on a mission aiming to interrupt Israel’s sea blockade.
The activists had deliberate to achieve Gaza’s territorial waters as early as Sunday to ship humanitarian help, however their plan was thwarted by Israel.
Picture:
Ms Thunberg pictured in a pre-recorded video, launched after the Madleen was diverted to Israel. Pic: FFC
Picture:
The local weather campaigner aboard the Madleen on 2 June. Pic: Freedom Flotilla Coalition/Reuters
Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, who’s of Palestinian descent, can be on the boat.
She has been barred from getting into Israel due to her opposition to Israel’s insurance policies in direction of Palestinians.
Ms Hassan wrote on X because the FFC’s yacht was allegedly surrounded by different vessels: “The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2am.”
The diversion of the Madleen comes after Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz stated that he had instructed the Israeli Defence Forces to forestall the vessel from reaching the shore and to “take whatever measures necessary”.
Picture:
The Madleen was heading for Gaza
Addressing Ms Thunberg and the opposite activists on Sunday, he stated: “You should turn back – because you will not reach Gaza.”
He wrote on X: “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: It is best to flip again – as a result of you’ll not attain Gaza.
“Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organisations – at sea, in the air and on land.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
2:38
Why is Greta crusing to Gaza?
Israel began permitting some fundamental help into Gaza final month after a three-month whole blockade geared toward pressuring Hamas and stopping the group from importing arms.
However humanitarian employees have warned of famine except there’s an finish to the blockade and the 20-month warfare, which was ignited by the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.
An try final month by Freedom Flotilla to achieve Gaza by sea failed after one other of the group’s vessels was attacked by two drones whereas crusing in worldwide waters off Malta.
The group blamed Israel for the assault, which broken the entrance part of the ship.
