In a significant development, Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid boat early Monday, which was carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and other humanitarian volunteers. The vessel, named Madleen, was diverted to Israel as part of the enforcement of a longstanding blockade on the Palestinian territory, which has been intensified during the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry took to social media to announce, “The ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel.” The statement indicated that the passengers onboard the Madleen are expected to return to their home countries while the humanitarian aid destined for Gaza would be transferred through established channels.
Following the interception, footage was circulated showing Israeli military personnel distributing sandwiches and water to the activists, who were outfitted in orange life vests. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the organization behind the voyage aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and protesting the blockade, condemned the actions of Israeli forces, claiming the activists had been “kidnapped.” They released pre-recorded messages from the passengers expressing their situation.
Among the activists was Thunberg, who is known for her global climate advocacy. The Madleen had embarked from Sicily a week prior, making a stop to rescue four migrants who jumped overboard to evade detention by the Libyan coast guard. Notably, Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian descent, was also on board. Hassan has been denied entry into Israel due to her vocal opposition to Israeli policies regarding Palestinians.
Since the conflict escalated, Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza in response to a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages. Although Israel began allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month under U.S. pressure, humanitarian workers have expressed grave concerns about a looming famine unless the blockade is fully lifted and military operations cease.
The blockade on Gaza has been a contentious issue, with critics labeling it as a form of collective punishment affecting the territory's approximately 2 million residents. Israel and Egypt have maintained various levels of blockade since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The humanitarian situation has worsened significantly, with reports indicating that over 54,000 Palestinians have died due to the military campaign, as stated by the Gaza Health Ministry. The majority of those casualties are said to be women and children, though the Ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
This recent attempt to deliver aid was not the first. Last month, another vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was attacked by two drones while it sailed in international waters off Malta, an incident the group attributed to Israeli forces. The blockade, which has severely restricted the flow of food, fuel, and medicine into Gaza, has resulted in vast areas of destruction and displacement, leaving around 90% of the population reliant on international aid.
As the situation continues to unfold, the actions taken by both Israeli forces and humanitarian organizations remain at the forefront of discussions surrounding the ongoing conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
