Source image: CNN
(The Post News)- Israeli naval forces intercepted and took over a British-flagged aid ship, the Madleen, on Monday morning as it attempted to violate the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. Among the 12 people detained on board were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.
The Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was en route to deliver a symbolic cargo of humanitarian aid—reported to be rice and baby formula—to Gaza, and to draw attention to the dire humanitarian crisis in the war-battered enclave.
In a Telegram statement by the FFC, the vessel was intercepted in international waters at around 2 a.m., hours before it was set to reach the shores of Gaza. In a picture published by Hassan on social media, the members of the crew were sitting with their hands raised and wearing life jackets. Israeli officials later confirmed that the vessel had been seized and was being towed towards an Israeli port.
The ‘celebrities’ ‘selfie yacht’ is safely sailing towards Israeli shores,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote on X (formerly Twitter), stating that everyone on board was unharmed and had received sandwiches and water. “The show is over.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who had already vowed to block the mission, ordered the military operation, saying the flotilla was a propaganda attempt for Hamas. “To antisemitic Greta and her Hamas propagandist friends—let me say this clearly: You will not be arriving in Gaza,” Katz said in a Sunday statement.
Upon arrival at Ashdod port, Katz announced that the activists would be shown video footage of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault that killed around 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians. The assault triggered the current war, now in its 20th month.
In response, Hamas condemned the seizure of the Madleen as “state terrorism” and praised the crew for attempting to challenge the blockade.
The Madleen set sail from Sicily last week on what activists described as a peaceful quest to challenge Israel’s decades-old sea blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007. Critics have accused the blockade of turning Gaza into an “open-air prison” and collective punishment for its two million inhabitants.
The seizure comes amid heightened international focus on Israel’s operations in Gaza, where the Health Ministry reports over 54,000 Palestinians have died, including many women and children. The ongoing hostilities have left around 90% of the population of Gaza displaced, destroyed entire neighborhoods, and rendered most of the population reliant on limited international aid.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the little aid on the Madleen would be transferred to Gaza “through genuine humanitarian channels,” dismissing the flotilla as a publicity stunt.
It’s not the first time the Freedom Flotilla has been targeted by Israel. The last attempt last month failed after another ship was reportedly attacked by drones in international waters near Malta—an attack the group blamed on Israel.
Despite international demands for greater humanitarian access to Gaza, Israel has continued to hold a tight grip on aid shipments. While some aid has been allowed in under US pressure, relief organizations warn that famine is still imminent unless access is dramatically increased and hostilities are ended.
Greta Thunberg, the internationally celebrated climate activist, was strongly condemned by Israeli officials for her pro-Palestine activism. Monday’s events are the newest flashpoint in the ongoing battle between Israel’s security policies and growing international calls to end the blockade of Gaza and the humanitarian crisis.
The activists are still in the custody of Israeli officials. It is not yet clear whether they will be taken to court on charges or deported.
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