Sailing Shot Down: Greta Thunberg's Aid Voyage Blasted by Israel
- ⏱️ 2 minutes read
Greta Thunberg and her travel companions depart from Israel - Departure of Greta Thunberg and Madleen's team from Israel
In a shocking turn of events, Greta Thunberg and her crewmates were given the boot from Israel, according to Israeli authorities as reported by stern[1]. The group, aboard the "Madleen," set sail from Sicily on a humanitarian mission to the Gaza Strip, but their vessel was intercepted by the Israeli navy.
The Unceremonious Exit
Now, our climate warrior and her fellows are jetting off to their respective homelands, confirming the Israeli Foreign Ministry's statement. Those resisting the document signing and departure will face the judicial bench[1].
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, responsible for the "Madleen's" voyage, reported that all activists were in Israeli custody[1]. There's a chance they could depart Tel Aviv tonight.
Aid for Gaza - A Route Detour
The Israeli Foreign Ministry clarified that the "stardust yacht" - a apparent nod to the celebrity crew-was now moored in Israel. Supposed aid supplies left untouched by the celebrities will be rerouted to the Gaza Strip through approved channels[1].
In a video shared by the Foreign Ministry, the crew members don orange life vests, emblematic of their quest to highlight the plight of Gaza's civilians under lengthy international law-violating blockade[2].
A Struggle at Sea
The "Freedom Flotilla's" sailboat embarked on its journey over a week ago, with Thunberg joining pro-Palestinian protests on multiple occasions[3]. A specialized Israeli army unit boarded the vessel in international waters, allegedly against the crew's will, and transported them to Israel[3]. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition brands this action as a kidnapping.
Despite ongoing conflict, Israel imposes a strict naval blockade on Gaza - a sea route which international law designates as a violation[3]. This measure was imposed in 2007 following the Hamas faction's assumption of power, a restriction supported by Egypt, a neighboring country to the south[3]. Allegedly, the blockade aims to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas, but the "Madleen" only carried aid supplies[3]. The Israeli military's actions may have breached the Geneva Conventions, potentially classifying them as a war crime[3].
- Greta Thunberg
- Israel
- Sailing Mission
- Gaza Strip
[1] enrichment data taken from search results[2] according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry's video[3] Freedom Flotilla Coalition statement and previous reports
- The European Union, committed to a common policy on the environment, may express concerns over Greta Thunberg's treatment by Israeli authorities in the context of her sailing mission to the Gaza Strip, as it unfolds as a part of general news, politics, and crime-and-justice developments.
- As war-and-conflicts persist in the Middle East, the international community, including the European Union, could potentially question Israel's handling of the situation concerning Greta Thunberg's aid voyage to the Gaza Strip, given allegations of a potential violation of the Geneva Conventions and questions about the legitimacy of its naval blockade.
