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An aid vessel launched by Greta Thunberg and other international activists headed for Gaza was boarded by Israeli forces on Sunday, mere hours after Israeli officials demanded they “turn back,” the coalition announced in a Telegram post.
The Madleen ship, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, set sail on June 1 with 12 activists onboard, including Thunberg, a Swedish peace and climate campaigner, and Irish actor Liam Cunningham.
“The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated,” the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the crew to abandon their aid mission and called the group “antisemitic” in a pointed jab.
“To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza,” Katz warned.
“Israel will act decisively against any attempt to break the blockade or support terrorist organizations, whether by sea, air or land.”
Thunberg, 22, has been banned from entering Israel because of her stances and statements regarding the Israel-Hamas War.
Shortly before the crew issued its statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a video on X showing the Israeli Navy using a loudspeaker to reach the Madleen.
“The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade. If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the [Israeli] port of Ashdod,” a soldier said, according to the video.
The group aboard the charity ship aims to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza’s refugees, including much-needed baby formula and simple nutrition like rice. They were expected to reach the coast by Sunday after a week-long trip from Sicily, but have faced threats from Israeli officials and issues with jamming devices messing up their online tracker.
Many residents in Gaza have been starving as a result of Israel’s blockades, which have been in place throughout the Strip since 2007.
The UN’s reports warned that Gaza’s two million refugees are at risk of an outright famine if aid is not permitted soon.
In early May, a separate aid ship for the same international non-governmental organization was attacked by drones off the coast of Malta. All 30 passengers onboard were safely evacuated and the coalition blamed the strike on the Israeli government. Israel didn’t comment on the attack at the time.
In 2010, another coalition ship on an aid mission was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops. Nine activists aboard the ship were killed and dozens more injured. A spokesperson for the IDF said that the troops were attacked after boarding the ship, claiming they acted in self defense.
With Post wires
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