After attempting to breach a naval blockade of the war-torn Gaza Strip on Monday, a charity boat carrying 12 people, including activist Greta Thunberg,
The boat was boarded and taken by Israeli naval forces. The boat is currently en route to an Israeli port.
The pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which operates the British-flagged yacht Madleen,
set out to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
and deliver a symbolic amount of aid later on Monday.
However, the FFC stated on its Telegram account that the boat was boarded overnight
before it could make it to shore.
It was later confirmed to be under Israeli control by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
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“The ‘celebrities”’selfie yacht’ is safely approaching Israel’s coastline.
“It is anticipated that the passengers will return to their countries of origin,” the ministry posted on X.
All passengers were safe and unharmed, the ministry later added.
“They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.
Among the 12-strong crew are Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.
Greta Thunberg and Other CREW ARRESTED
“The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2 a.m.,” Hassan posted on X.
A photograph showed the crew seated on the boat, including Greta Thunberg all wearing life jackets, with their hands in the air.
Furthermore, it is reported that the yacht is carrying a small shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula.
The Foreign Ministry said it would be taken to Gaza.
“The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the ‘celebrities’ will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels,” it wrote.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz referred to the mission as a propaganda attempt in favor of Hamas
and gave the military an order on Sunday to stop the Madleen from entering Gaza.
Katz claimed that he had given the activists instructions to watch videos of the horrors that took place during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel
that set off the Gaza war when the boat docked in Ashdod port.
Hamas on the other hand said it salutes its activists and denounced the boat’s seizure as “state terrorism”.