Activists Led by Greta Thunberg, Aid Boat Bound for Gaza, Intercepted by Israeli Authorities
The aid vessel dubbed the Madleen, sporting environmental activist Greta Thunberg, "Game of Thrones" actor Liam Cunningham, and a handful of other protesters, was captured Sunday night as it journeyed across the Mediterranean. The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported this development, following Defense Minister Israel Katz's declaration of preventing the boat from reaching the conflicted Gaza Strip.
As the boat traversed the sea, it seemed to have been intercepted by Israeli forces. A stern statement from the Israel Defense Ministry on social media declared that the passengers would be returning to their respective homes. They also added that any aid on the boat would be dispatched to Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage to deliver aid and stage protests against the Gaza blockade and Israel's wartime conduct, slammed the move, alleging that Israeli forces had "kidnapped" the activists and confiscated their life-saving cargo.
Devoid of weapons, the unarmed civilian crew had their scheduled messaged pre-recorded and publicized statements claiming their unlawful seizure and the looting of their life-saving resources, which included baby formula, food, and medical supplies.
Earlier in the day, Katz had reasserted Israel's determination to forestall anyone from breaching its naval blockade of Palestinian territory—a blockade claimed to obstruct Hamas from importing arms.
In his statement, Katz summoned Thunberg and her associates, labeling them as "antisemitic" and urging them to retract their course, claiming they would not make it to Gaza. He further emphasized that Israel would counter any intrusion attempts, whether at sea, in the air, or on land.
Members of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition—Thunberg, Cunningham, and twelve others—set off from Sicily last week aboard the Madleen. Their goal was to reach Gaza's territorial waters at the earliest opportunity, as per their statement.
On the day of the incident, the coalition took to social media, accusing Israel of jamming their communication as they approached around 160 nautical miles from Gaza, urging onlookers to support them in breaking the siege.
Rima Hassan, a representative of the French Parliament's European wing and of Palestinian descent, was among the group of protesters. Prevented from entering Israel due to her opposition to Israeli policies towards the Palestinians, Hassan encapsulated their plight in a succinct social media post, pleading for help and expressing concerns for their safety when they could no longer communicate as a result of Israeli detention.
A three-month embargo aimed at exerting pressure on Hamas led to Israel easing restrictions on some basic aid to Gaza last month. Nonetheless, humanitarian workers continue to warn of a looming famine unless the conflict concludes and the embargo ceases.
A previous Freedom Flotilla endeavor to reach Gaza last month by sea failed, as another vessel in the group had been attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The coalition pointed the finger at Israel, as Israel has yet to address the attack's culpability.
Palestinians report 12 deaths by Israeli fire near aid sites
Witnesses and the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry shared reports of at least 12 deaths and multiple injuries resulting from Israeli fire on Sunday. The casualties were said to have occurred near two aid distribution centers in Gaza governed by the Israeli and U.S.-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). According to the military, Israeli forces had fired warning shots at the approaching population.
Palestinian residents in the southern city of Khan Younis asserted that Israeli forces had fired upon them at a roundabout about a kilometer (half a mile) from a GHF distribution site in the adjacent city of Rafah. The Israeli military contended that it had issued warnings and fired at the advancing individuals in an active combat zone at night.
The GHF representative claimed that no violence had taken place either in or around their distribution points, all of which successfully delivered aid on Sunday. The group had temporarily halted operations last week to address safety measures with the Israeli military and had warned the public to stick to designated access routes. The spokesperson spoke off the record due to organizational regulations.
The aid centers had been erected within Israeli military zones—regions inaccessible to independent media—and were managed by GHF, a newly established group of American contractors. Israel has made efforts to replace the system coordinated by the United Nations and international aid organizations, which they have accused Hamas of exploiting.
The U.N., however, refutes allegations of systematic aid diversion, while Israel maintains that the new system meets mounting needs and allows Israel to manage who can access aid and forces people to relocate to areas where aid sites are situated.
Save the Children CEO: No aid from organization has reached Gaza since March 2
Janti Soeripto, the CEO of Save the Children, informed CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday that her organization had not been able to distribute aid to Gaza since March 2 due to the lack of Israeli approval.
"Although the blockade is officially lifted, we haven't managed to get the 50 trucks that we have assembled around Gaza at the border ready to go, and we haven't received anything in," Soeripto stated.
Additionally, Soeripto mentioned that supplies were dwindling. President Trump has called on the U.N. to collaborate with GHF to distribute aid, while Soeripto divulged that her organization has conveyed their concerns.
Soeripto disclosed that other operational agencies in Gaza shared their apprehensions with this new mechanism, preferring the old mechanism that worked effectively when hostilities ceased from January to March 2023, as noted. Dozens have perished attempting to reach GHF distribution sites, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Soeripto condemned this as a "militarization of aid."
Israel acknowledged that it would sustain the naval blockade until returning the captives and defeating or disarming Hamas, forcing them into exile. Talks mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have remained stagnant for months.
Hamas initiated the conflict with a massive attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and the seizure of another 251 individuals. As of writing, 55 of the remaining hostages are still in captivity, with fewer than half believed to be alive. The others were released during ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel's military campaign has led to the death of over 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The count includes women and children but does not specify the number of civilians or combatants. Israel claims it has killed over 20,000 militants without providing evidence.
- Hamas
- Israel
- Gaza
- Gaza Strip
- Greta Thunberg
- Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the health of its residents remains a pressing concern, with the United Nations raising alarms about a potential famine if the conflict doesn't conclude.
- The political landscape has been marked by various events, including the Israeli government's prevention of activist Greta Thunberg's aid vessel from reaching the Gaza Strip, a move criticized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
- In the realm of general news, reports of 12 deaths by Israeli fire near aid sites in Gaza have sparked international concern, with the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry confirming the casualties.
- Crime and justice have also come into focus, as the CEO of Save the Children revealed that no aid from their organization has reached Gaza since March 2, due largely to Israeli restrictions.
