Israeli forces seized a ship carrying aid to Gaza in the early hours of Monday in international waters, detaining prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg and other protesters.
The British-flagged ship, Madleen, set sail from Italy a week ago to protest Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid. The voyage was organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and included activists from Sweden, France, Brazil, and other countries.
Israeli forces said they took command of the ship at sea, detaining Swedish climate activist Thunberg and the rest of the crew. Video from the ship showed the crew and passengers unarmed, wearing life jackets, and raising their hands as the ship was boarded.
“If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters,” Thunberg said in a pre-recorded video, calling for pressure on the Swedish government to help secure her release.
Israel said it would return the detainees to their countries of origin. The ship was carrying what the activists said was a symbolic amount of food for Gaza. In posts on X, the country’s Foreign Ministry showed videos of Thunberg and the other activists, and said they would arrive in Israel later on Monday.
Israel has banned all international aid from reaching Gaza for two months amid a rise in malnutrition and recently implemented its own limited delivery system under armed guard.
Drones off the coast of Malta attacked a ship sent by the flotilla coalition in May, damaging the vessel. No one claimed responsibility, but the group blamed Israel. Nine activists were killed when Israeli forces raided a flotilla trying to break Gaza’s blockade in 2010. Israel did not comment on this incident.
Source: www.npr.org by Jane Arraf