A ship of 12 activists – together with Greta Thunberg – headed for Gaza has been diverted to Israel.
The British-flagged yacht Madleen – operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) – set sail from Italy on 1 Could with an intention to interrupt Israel’s sea blockade and ship help to individuals in Gaza.
However the Israeli overseas ministry mentioned on Monday that the boat is as an alternative “safely making its way to the shores of Israel”.
The ministry mentioned all passengers had been protected and unhurt, however the FFC claimed the yacht had been “kidnapped by Israeli forces”.
The coalition later launched pre-recorded messages from them after beforehand saying that the “Israeli army had boarded” the vessel.
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Israel intercepts help boat carrying Thunberg
Who’s on board?
A politician, journalist and physician are amongst those that have joined local weather activist Ms Thunberg on the yacht.
The 12 passengers – or volunteers because the FCC refers to them as – are from throughout the globe. Half of them are from France, whereas others are from Brazil, Germany, Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands.
It was beforehand believed that Irish actor Liam Cunningham was going to be a kind of on the Madleen, however the Sport of Thrones actor has not been listed as a passenger.
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Rima Hassan is a French member of the European Parliament who’s of Palestinian descent.
She has been barred from getting into Israel due to her opposition to Israeli insurance policies towards the Palestinians.
Picture:
Greta Thunberg was ‘protected and in good spirits’ whereas en path to Israel, the overseas ministry mentioned. Pic: Israel Overseas Ministry
The complete listing of passengers consists of:
• Greta Thunberg – Sweden• Rima Hassan – France• Yasemin Acar – Germany• Baptiste Andre – France• Thiago Avila – Brazil• Omar Faiad – France• Pascal Maurieras – France• Yanis Mhamdi – France• Suayb Ordu – Turkey• Sergio Toribio – Spain• Mark van Rennes – Netherlands• Reva Viard – France
Is the UK chargeable for the yacht?
The FFC has mentioned the UK authorities has a “legal duty” to guard the yacht and its crew and passengers as it’s flying below the British flag.
In a publish on X on 6 June, the coalition wrote: “Under international law, the UK must: Prevent genocide, reject Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, defend its flagged ship from unlawful attacks.”
After the boat was diverted by Israeli forces, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations particular rapporteur on Palestine, additionally urged the UK authorities to intervene.
Picture:
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, board the Madleen boat. Pic: AP
Any vessel registered within the UK is outlined as a British ship and is allowed to fly the Crimson Ensign flag – a purple flag with the Union Jack within the prime left-hand nook.
The UK authorities sometimes offers assist to vessels flying the Crimson Ensign, however there was no remark from the UK Overseas Workplace on the Madleen, or official affirmation that it’s a registered British ship.
What occurred to the final Freedom Flotilla?
Final month, an try by the 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.
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On Sunday, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz ordered the navy to stop the most recent mission from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in assist of Hamas.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took management of Gaza in 2007.
The blockade has remained in place by means of a number of conflicts, together with the present conflict, which started after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.
