Israel’s Defence Minister has pledged to prevent a humanitarian aid vessel carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others from reaching the Gaza Strip. The vessel, Madleen, departed from Sicily last week and is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s ongoing efforts to challenge Israel’s naval blockade. Israel Katz stated on Sunday that the blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas from importing weaponry and reiterated that no attempt to breach it would be tolerated.
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Among those on board is French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, who has previously been barred from entering Israel due to her criticism of its policies toward Palestinians. The ship, named after Gaza’s only known female fisher, is aiming not only to deliver aid but also to draw international attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Ms Thunberg, speaking from the vessel, said the mission was a response to governmental failures, adding: “We are just human beings, very concerned about what’s happening, and do not accept what is going on.”
This voyage follows a failed attempt last month, when another flotilla vessel was struck by drones in international waters near Malta, reportedly by Israeli forces. Tensions have remained high since the outbreak of conflict on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack in southern Israel that left around 1,200 people dead and more than 250 taken hostage. Of those, 55 remain captive, though fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel has since rescued some hostages and recovered multiple bodies.
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In the ongoing war, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 54,000 Palestinian fatalities, with women and children forming a significant portion. Israel contends that more than 20,000 militants have been killed, though it has yet to provide detailed evidence. The conflict has devastated much of Gaza’s infrastructure, displacing around 90 per cent of the population and leaving its 2 million residents almost entirely reliant on foreign aid as local food production has collapsed.
