Israeli forces have controlled charity ships carrying climate activist Greta Samberg and 11 others who tried to break the Navy Blockade in the Gaza Strip.
Ships, British flapping yachts Madly Operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), it planned to provide iconic aid to Gaza, including Baby Formula and the rice, on Monday, attracting international attention to the humanitarian crisis.
The FFC said in a telegram that the boat boarded overnight before it reached the coast. Israel’s Foreign Ministry later confirmed it was under Israeli control.
The Ministry explained that Madly As a “selfie yacht,” the mission was called an advertising stunt.
“The ‘celebrity’ “selfie yachts'” are safely heading towards the Israeli coast. Passengers are expected to return to their home country,” the ministry wrote about X. “They were offered sandwiches and water. The show is over.”
The boat was brought with 12 activists, including Swedish climate activists and French member of the European Parliament, Lima Hassan.
“The Freedom Frieda crew was arrested by Israeli forces in international waters around 2am,” Hassan wrote to X.
A pre-recorded video posted to Ms Thunberg’s FFC X account claimed that activists were “intercepted and lured.” She called on her supporters to “pressure the Swedish government to release me and others as soon as possible.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz joins the military Madly As they reach Gaza, they call the mission a propaganda effort to support Hamas.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense posted photos and videos of activists to X. One photo shows Ms Thunberg smiling, showing IDF soldiers distributing food and water among activists. Activists said they were moving safely to Israel’s coast.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said aid carried by activists will be brought to Gaza. “The small number of aid on the yacht and not consumed by ‘celebrity’ will be transferred to Gaza through actual humanitarian channels,” he wrote.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on coastal enclaves after Hamas ruled Gaza in 2007. According to Israeli Tully, the blockade remains through multiple conflicts, including the current war that began after Hamas-led attacks on Israel began on October 7, 2023 after killing more than 1,200 people.
Gaza’s health ministry says more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israeli military elections. The UN warns that most of Gaza’s more than 2 million residents face hunger.
The Israeli government says blockade is essential to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestinian Territories, expressed support for the FFC operation, urging other boats to challenge blockade.
“Madreen’s journey may be over, but the mission is not over. All Mediterranean ports must send boats with aid and solidarity to Gaza,” she writes to X.
