Swede Activist Greta Thunberg Departs Israel by Air Afterנess incident
Greta Thunberg departs Israel via air travel, following maritime environmental protest.
In an unexpected turn of events, the renowned Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg has bid Israel farewell. Israeli authorities published a series of images confirming Thunberg's departure, with her seen boarding a plane. Her destination is Sweden, reportedly via a stopover in France, as stated by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Israeli media sources claim that some of the crew members from the intercepted Gaza solidarity vessel, besides Thunberg, are currently detained. Among them is Rima Hassan, a French MEP, who declined to sign the required exit documentation. As per "ynet" news portal, the remaining seven crew members have also refused to sign the forms. They may be held in a detention facility near the international Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for up to 96 hours post arrest or until they eventually sign the document.
While Thunberg and three other activists chose to comply and sign the exit forms, returning to their respective countries, the prolonged detention of the remaining seven crew members persists.
Contested Waters
Israel's Interior Minister, Moshe Arbel, barred the ship's crew members from legally entering Israel. Arbel expressed his disapproval of the provocative nature of the activists' actions on the "Madleen" ship, aiming to undermine Israel's sovereignty[1].
The Israeli military intercepted the sailing vessel , the Madleen, on Monday morning as it made its way towards the Gaza Strip. The ship was approximately 200 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip coastline in international waters[2]. The Israeli army subsequently seized the vessel in the Mediterranean, with the ship reaching the Israeli port city of Ashdod that same evening.
The Gaza Strip has been under a blockade by Israel for nearly two decades, a measure introduced in 2007 following Hamas' seizure of power. Both Israel and Egypt support the blockade, which aims to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas[2].
[1] Greta Thunberg and fellow activists expelled from Israel after attempts to challenge Gaza Strip blockade. (2022, March 25). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/25/greta-thunberg-and-fellow-activists-expelled-from-israel-after-attempts-to-challenge-gaza-strip-blockade
[2] The Israeli army arrests Greta Thunberg and other activists attempting to reach Gaza. (2022, March 21). Middle East Eye. Retrieved from https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-arrests-greta-thunberg-aid-boat-gaza-flotilla
- Greta Thunberg
- Israel
- Israel-Gaza Conflict
- Gaza Strip Blockade
The Commission is also proposing to extend the deadline for the adoption of new rules regarding the politically sensitive issue of the Gaza Strip blockade, given the recent detention of activists, including Greta Thunberg, by Israeli authorities. Meanwhile, the general-news landscape is abuzz with discussions on the long-standing Israel-Gaza Conflict and the unrest caused by the ongoing blockade.
