Israeli Forces Prevent Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg And Other Activists From Reaching Gaza

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound assistance vessel carrying Greta Thunberg and different activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of nan Palestinian territory that has been tightened during nan warfare pinch Hamas.

“The ‘selfie yacht’ of nan ‘celebrities’ is safely making its measurement to nan shores of Israel,” nan Foreign Ministry said successful a societal media post. “The passengers are expected to return to their location countries.”

It said nan humanitarian assistance aboard nan vessel would beryllium transferred to Gaza done established channels. It later circulated footage of what appeared to beryllium Israeli subject unit handing retired sandwiches and h2o to nan activists, who were wearing orangish life vests.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organized nan voyage to present humanitarian assistance to nan Gaza Strip and protestation Israel’s blockade and wartime conduct, said nan activists had been “kidnapped by Israeli forces” and released pre-recorded messages from them.

Thunberg, a ambiance campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard nan Madleen, which group sail from Sicily a week ago. Along nan way, it had stopped connected Thursday to rescue 4 migrants who had jumped overboard to debar being detained by nan Libyan seashore guard.

Rima Hassan, a French personnel of nan European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was besides among nan volunteers connected board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her guidance to Israeli policies toward nan Palestinians.

After a 2½-month full blockade aimed astatine pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing immoderate basal assistance into Gaza past month, but humanitarian workers person warned of famine unless nan blockade is lifted and Israel ends its subject offensive.

An effort past period by Freedom Flotilla to scope Gaza by oversea grounded aft different of nan group’s vessels was attacked by 2 drones while sailing successful world waters disconnected Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged nan beforehand conception of nan ship.

Israel and Egypt person imposed varying degrees of blockade connected Gaza since Hamas seized powerfulness from rival Palestinian forces successful 2007. Critics of nan blockade opportunity it amounts to corporate reward of Gaza’s astir 2 cardinal Palestinians.

Israel sealed Gaza disconnected from each assistance successful nan early days of nan warfare ignited by nan Hamas-led onslaught connected confederate Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023, but later relented nether U.S. pressure. In early March, soon earlier Israel ended a ceasefire pinch Hamas, nan state again blocked each imports, including food, substance and medicine.

Hamas-led militants killed astir 1,200 people, mostly civilians, successful nan Oct. 7 onslaught and abducted 251 hostages, much than half of whom person since been released successful ceasefire agreements aliases different deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, much than half of them believed to beryllium dead.

Israel’s subject run has killed much than 54,000 Palestinians, according to nan Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children dress up astir of nan dead. It doesn’t opportunity whether those killed are civilians aliases combatants.

The warfare has destroyed immense areas of Gaza and displaced astir 90% of nan territory’s population, leaving group location almost wholly limited connected world aid.