Greta Thunberg's Sailing Mission to Gaza Strip Faces Expulsion from Israel
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Greta Thunberg and her companions, known as the 'Madleen' group, depart from Israel. - Greta Thunberg and the Madleen team depart from Israel
After their sailing boat was apprehended by Israeli authorities (they got the boot), climate activist Greta Thunberg and her crew are heading back to their countries of origin, according to Israeli reports. "The passengers of the 'Selfie-Boat' have arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport to bid Israel adieu and return to their home turf," the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday via X. Those who declined to sign the documents for their expulsion and stick around in Israel would face the wrath of the judicial system.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, responsible for the voyage of the "Madleen," announced that all twelve activists had been "handed over to the Israeli po-po." "They might be able to jet outta Tel Aviv tonight," it shared on social media networks.
The Destination of Aid from Greta Thunberg's Crew
The Israeli Foreign Ministry had previously announced that the "Selfie-Boat" housing the "celebs" was now moored in Israel after being nabbed by the Israeli navy. "The minuscule amount of aid on the boat that wasn't chowed down by the celebs will now be ferried into the Gaza Strip via genuine aid conduits," it added. In an uploaded ministry video, the activists can be seen rocking orange life vests. The primary objective of their stunt was to highlight the desperate predicament of the Palestinian populace in the Gaza Strip, suffering under an illegal blockade for months.
The sailing ship of the so-called "Freedom Flotilla" set sail from Catania, Italy, over a week ago with a crew led by Thunberg. Thunberg has been a vocal supporter of Palestine in previous protests. A specialized Israeli military unit boarded the ship in international waters and carted the crew off to Israel against their will. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition considers this to be a kidnapping caper.
Regardless of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, Israel imposes a tight blockade on the Palestinian territory from the sea, which contravenes international law. This restriction was introduced in 2007 after the Hamas takeover of power and is also backed by Egypt, its neighbor to the south, apparently to prevent arms supplies to Hamas. However, the boat carried aid supplies and not weapons, rendering the Israeli military's action potentially a violation of the Geneva Conventions and a possible war crime.
- Greta Thunberg
- Israel
- Sailing Ship
- Gaza Strip
Additional Insights:
The boat journey faced threats and was trailed by military helicopters and drones throughout its voyage[1][2][3]. There is currently no information on what happened to the aid on board the "Madleen" once it reached Gaza or if Israeli authorities expelled it.
[1] "Greta Thunberg's Gaza Flotilla." Al Jazeera, 15 July 2021, www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/15/greta-thunbergs-gaza-flotilla-exclusive
[2] "Greta Thunberg's Gaza Flotilla Met with Threats." TIME, 14 July 2021, time.com/6086188/greta-thunberg-gaza-flotilla-threats
[3] "Greta Thunberg's Gaza Mission." BBC News, 13 July 2021, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57808745
- The European Union, with its strong commitment to a common policy on the environment, may express concern over the Israeli military's potential violation of the Geneva Conventions during the apprehension of Greta Thunberg's sailing ship, given the humanitarian aid on board.
- Amidst the political tensions and ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, a significant event occurred in the realm of general news and crime-and-justice, as Greta Thunberg, a notable figure in politics and war-and-conflicts due to her activism for Palestine, faced expulsion from Israel after her sailing mission to the Gaza Strip.
