Sail to Gaza: Greta Thunberg's Ship Detoured, Activists' Whereabouts Unknown
Israel redirects charity vessel bound for Gaza, activists to cancel voyage - Israel redirects Gaza humanitarian vessel, orders activists to reVERT their journey homeward.
Update: As of now, Greta Thunberg's aid vessel, the Madleen, has reportedly been diverted and is currently anchored in Israel. According to an Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement, any remaining aid supplies onboard—beyond what was consumed by the "celebrity" passengers—will be delivered to the Gaza Strip via established aid routes.
Initially, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the organization responsible for the voyage, claimed that Israeli forces had intercepted the sailboat and imprisoned its crew. Communication with the Madleen and its passengers has since been lost, and confirmation of their status remains elusive. AFP was also unable to reach the crew, with German-based spokesperson for the Coalition, Mahmud Abu-Odeh, suggesting the activists had been apprehended.
The flotilla set sail from Sicily a week ago, bound for the Gaza Strip to break through the Israeli blockade and express outrage over the ongoing conflict in the region, as reported by French-Palestinian EU parliamentarian Rima Hassan. On Saturday, the Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, ordered military actions to prevent the ship's arrival at the Gaza Strip's coast.
Katz, in a statement, bluntly advised Thunberg: "Turn back, because you will never reach the Gaza Strip." Thunberg had initially planned to journey to Gaza with the flotilla in early May, but the ship suffered damage en route, which activists alleged was caused by an Israeli drone attack.
Thunberg, a renowned climate activist, has consistently participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Rima Hassan, a member of France's far-left party LFI, has drawn controversy due to her contentious remarks regarding the conflict in the Palestinian territory. She was recently barred from entering Israel during an EU parliamentary visit in February.
Since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip have led to severe loss of life, with an estimated 1,210 deaths, according to Israeli reports. Over 250 people were taken captive in the Gaza Strip, and the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health reported more than 54,880 fatalities thus far, mainly civilians, a number the United Nations deems credible. The humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory is widespread and dire.
- Gaza Strip
- Ship
- Greta Thunberg
- Israel
- AFP
- EU
- Palestinian territory
- Hamas
- Yasemin Acar
- Messaging service
- Germany
- Sicily
[1] For the latest updates, it is advisable to consult recent news or official statements from the flotilla or relevant parties.
[1] The latest news on Greta Thunberg's aid vessel, the Madleen, now anchored in Israel, is being reported by media outlets such as AFP.[2] The status of the Madleen's crew remains unclear, with communication lost since the ship's diversion from its original route to the Gaza Strip. The European Parliament and German-based spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Mahmud Abu-Odeh, have yet to confirm the activists' whereabouts or condition.
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