Israel Intends to Bar boat Sailing with Greta Thunberg from Reaching Gaza Waters
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Israeli Army Orders Stoppiece: Greta Thunberg's Sailing Boat En Route to Gaza Strip
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Israel's Defense Minister has given the green light to the military to thwart the approach of a humanitarian vessel sailing towards the Gaza Strip. The boat carrying activists, which also includes environmental champion Greta Thunberg, is reportedly barred from reaching its destination, per Israel Katz's statement[1]. Katz bluntly declared, "To Greta, the anti-Semite, and her cronies, mouthpieces of Hamas propaganda, I say it clearly: back off, as you'll never see the shores of Gaza."
Launched from Sicily a week ago, the ship—part of the so-called "Freedom Flotilla"—set sail to protest Israel's blockade on aid deliveries and the ongoing "genocide" in Gaza, controversial French-Palestinian MP Rima Hassan claimed[2]. An outspoken figure, Hassan has faced criticism in France for her divisive statements about the conflict in the Palestinian region. She was barred from entering Israel as part of an EU parliamentary trip earlier this year, according to her own account.
Thunberg had initially planned to make a similar voyage to Gaza in early May, but the vessel encountered damage during transit. Suspicions aroused amongst activists that Israel may have employed a drone to attack the ship. Thunberg has been an outspoken supporter of the pro-Palestinian cause[3]. The ongoing conflict escalated in October 2023, with a heavy attack originating from Hamas and affiliated fighters on Israel, resulting in the death of about 1,210 people, according to Israeli figures[4]. 251 individuals were allegedly abducted and taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel has been conducting extensive military operations within the Gaza Strip since then, resulting in the deaths of over 54,700 people, according to figures from the Hamas-led health ministry[4]. These numbers have been confirmed as credible by the United Nations.
[1] Enrichment Data: The Gaza Freedom Flotilla, with Greta Thunberg onboard, has been met with hostility and potential sabotage. The vessel has been shadowed by military helicopters and drones, and reports suggest intentional attacks during previous attempts to reach Gaza.
[2] Enrichment Data: Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian MP, has caused controversy for her remarks about the Palestinian conflict. She was denied entry to Israel as part of an EU parliamentary trip earlier this year.
[3] Enrichment Data: Greta Thunberg has been a vocal supporter of the pro-Palestinian movement and has taken part in protests against the situation in Gaza.
[4] Enrichment Data: Tensions between Israel and Hamas escalated significantly in October 2023, with a massive attack from Hamas and affiliated groups triggering Israel's ongoing military operations within Gaza. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,210 people and the abduction of 251 individuals. Nearly 55,000 people have lost their lives in the ongoing military operations, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health ministry, which have been deemed credible by the United Nations.
- The Commission, in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Greta Thunberg's vocal support for the pro-Palestinian movement, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice zones, given the reported attacks on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
- As general-news outlets continue to cover the escalating conflict in Gaza and the Israeli military's actions against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, including the continued documentation of potential sabotage and attacks, it is crucial for journalists to prioritize the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation during their coverage of such high-risk zones.
