The Madleen yacht, which departed from Sicily, is currently 160 nautical miles from Gaza and aims to deliver humanitarian aid in defiance of Israel's blockade. Israel's Defense Minister has declared that the military will act to stop the vessel, while the Freedom Flotilla Coalition asserts their intention to proceed with their mission despite threats.
Israel Threatens Action Against Humanitarian Aid Flotilla headed for Gaza
Israel Threatens Action Against Humanitarian Aid Flotilla headed for Gaza
Israeli officials warn of military measures to prevent a pro-Palestinian yacht, carrying activists and humanitarian supplies, from breaching its naval blockade on Gaza.
Israel has issued a firm warning, stating that its military will "take whatever measures are necessary" to deter a boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza. The vessel named Madleen is approximately 160 nautical miles away from the Gaza Strip, challenging Israel's ongoing naval blockade of the territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has urged the 12-member crew, which includes prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg, to turn back, asserting that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will intervene against any attempts to breach the blockade.
According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the Madleen departed from Sicily on Friday, laden with humanitarian relief and is "prepared for the possibility of an Israeli attack". Katz emphasized the blockade's role in preventing arms from reaching Hamas, branding the mission as essential to Israel’s security strategies aimed at neutralizing the Palestinian militant group. He addressed the crew directly via social media, labeling Thunberg and others as "Hamas propaganda spokespeople" and warned, "You will not reach Gaza."
The FFC condemned Katz’s rhetoric as a threat of unlawful force against civilians, declaring, "We will not be intimidated. The world is watching." An FFC spokesperson highlighted that the Madleen, an unarmed civilian vessel sailing in international waters, carries a symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid, primarily including rice and baby formula. The crew hails from various countries including Brazil, France, and Germany.
Israeli media reports indicate that naval forces are prepared to intercept the boat before it reaches Gaza shores. An Israeli official confirmed to local press that they plan to take control of the ship, detain the crew, and deport them the same night. The situation mirrors past tensions surrounding aid flotillas; notably, in 2010, Israeli commandos killed ten individuals aboard the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara as it attempted a similar voyage.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a staggering loss of life, as the Hamas-run health ministry reports over 54,880 fatalities in Gaza since Israel's extensive military operations commenced following an unprecedented Hamas-led attack on Israel that claimed around 1,200 lives.
