Defiance at sea: Greta Thunberg’s flotilla stopped by Israel yet again in tense showdown over Gaza access.NN
The Israeli Navy intercepted the latest flotilla attempting to break the maritime blockade around the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and took Greta Thunberg and other activists into custody.
Footage from the scene on the Mediterranean shows the navy vessels intercepting the 47 boats that make up the Global Sumud Flotilla, which organizers say is carrying more than 500 activists, including climate advocate Thunberg.
The Swedish activist was seen sitting on the ground as Israeli sailors presented her belongings to her so that she could be taken into custody.
“Already several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted on X. “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy.”
Those aboard the ships could be seen chanting “Free Palestine!” as their journey game to an end about 100 miles from their intended destination, similar to the failed venture in June.
The floatilla members claimed Israeli warships were jamming their communications and live cameras just before the flotilla was intercepted.
“They are currently hailing our vessels, telling us to turn off our engines and await further instructions or our boats will be seized and we will face the consequences,” said Greg Stoker, an American veteran aboard one of the boats in the flotilla.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the activists would be taken to Ashdod, where Israel houses a naval base, and would then be expelled from the country.
Tajani said he had received assurances from his Israeli counterpart that no violence would be used against the flotilla.
The activists had previously rejected Israel’s calls for the boats to turn around and arrive at the Jewish state, where the military offered to take charge of the humanitarian aid on board and deliver it to Gaza.
The group maintains that the blockade around Gaza is illegal given the humanitarian crisis inside the Palestinian enclave, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are suffering from malnutrition.
Spain, which has been critical about Israel’s war in Gaza, defended the flotilla and called for the residents of the ship, who hail from dozens of nations around the world, to be treated fairly.
“We must remember it is a humanitarian mission that wouldn’t be taking place if the Israeli government had allowed for the entry of aid,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told reporters Wednesday.
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Israel has slammed the activists as provocateurs, with officials in the Jewish state also accusing members of the flotilla of having connections with Hamas terrorists.
