On Saturday, Israeli naval forces stopped the Gaza-bound aid boat turbo-trawler “Madleen.” Specifically, they arrested prominent climate organizer Greta Thunberg with other activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The ship had departed Sicily last Friday, under orders to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza. This push occurs even as Israel has maintained a full blockade since March 2.
Thunberg, who is an internationally known climate activist and winner of the 2019 Right Livelihood Award, was not alone with her activism on board the “Madleen.” They wanted to call attention to the blockade, to the repression of protestors, and to the humanitarian crisis currently manifesting itself in Gaza. In a video posted before the interception, Thunberg stated, “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces.”
The interception happened in international waters, a decision that has been heavily condemned. Israel’s Foreign Ministry contemptuously described the “Madleen” as a “selfie yacht” packed with “celebrities.” They accused the mission of being more concerned with PR than real humanitarian action.
Israel had threatened, as it had in the past, to stop the flotilla from reaching Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s now infamous command to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) brooks no interpretation. He ordered them not to let the ship land where it was headed. He remarked on the risks involved with such missions, stating, “We know that it’s a very risky mission and we know that previous experiences with flotillas like this have resulted in attacks, violence and even cases of death.”
Once intercepted, the conditions on board only became worse as described by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. They stated, “Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white paint-like substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry maintained that unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are “dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.” They focused on the fact that the maritime zone located along Gaza’s coast is considered closed.
In response to the incident, Hamas condemned the interception as “a flagrant violation of international law, and an attack on civilian volunteers acting out of humanitarian motives.” The organization has long been opposed to Israel’s blockade. They’ve joined forces with young activists such as Thunberg to bring global attention to this urgent cause.
The “Madleen,” besides Thunberg, had on board many other young change-makers focused on promoting humanitarian values. Photos like these, released by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, depicting Thunberg at the moment of her detention, demonstrate the high-profile nature of this incident.
That last aspect is particularly interesting, and, as of this writing, Israeli authorities have confirmed that the vessel is indeed safely sailing to shore. The detained passengers, including Thunberg, plan to return to their home countries after being released.
