Israel on Sunday ordered the military to stop a humanitarian ship carrying activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, from breaking the blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

Jerusalem (AFP) – Israel on Sunday ordered the military to stop a humanitarian ship carrying activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, from breaking the blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

“I have instructed the military to prevent the Madleen flotilla from reaching Gaza,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement from his office.

Calling Thunberg an “antisemite” and the group of activists “Hamas propaganda mouthpieces”, he added: “Turn back because you will not reach Gaza.”

The Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Italy on June 1 with the aim of delivering aid and challenging the Israeli blockade, which has been in place for years even before the Israel-Hamas war since October 2023.

Organisers said Saturday the vessel had entered Egyptian waters and was nearing Gaza, where the war has entered its 21st month.

“Israel will not allow anyone to break the naval blockade of Gaza, which is aimed at preventing weapons from reaching Hamas – a murderous terrorist group holding our hostages and committing war crimes,” Katz said.

“Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or support terror groups – by sea, air or land,” he added.

  • voracitude@lemmy.world
    20·
    23 days ago

    If Israel hurts Greta they will lock their pariah state status in for decades.

    That’s the idea of the flotilla, I think.

    I also think bibi doesn’t give a fuck, and that ship is likely toast, and there likely won’t be consequences for decades (if ever).

    • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
      43·
      23 days ago

      There will be IMMEDIATE consequences, you are waayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy off the mark here.

      The entire world is watching.

      … including military assets we have no idea about, any move now all world leaders will take note of.

      • voracitude@lemmy.world
        31·
        23 days ago

        The entire world has been watching the genocide in Gaza, and the unprovoked attacks on Syria, and the reckless violence which has killed so many foreign nationals, reporters, and aid workers, and what consequences to speak of yet? What evidence supports your position?

        • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
          82·
          23 days ago

          I know, I understand that perspective and feel similarly a lot of the time but I see cracks now, I see them everywhere.

          The most easiest piece of evidence is that Piers Morgan admitted to Mehdi Hasan on live tv that he was wrong about Gaza and that what Israel is doing is abhorrent. This is a MASSIVE shift for a VERY prominent UK news anchor that had pretty embarassingly been running interference for the Palestinian Genocide in UK media to keep the public there from turning against this awful destruction of humanity.

          It is too late, nonetheless but I will take my victory with a fervor that is meant to honor the fact that it is already too late for so many.

      • rumimevlevi@lemmings.world
        32·
        23 days ago

        You are very optimiatic. You will just here strong empty condemnation. The houthi may be the only one who will reply with actions