Israel vows to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching Gaza

Activist Greta Thunberg and unit basal aboard the assistance vessel Madleen, which near the Italian larboard of Catania connected June 1 to question to Gaza to present humanitarian aid, successful this representation released connected June 2, 2025 connected societal media. | Photo Credit: Freedom Flotilla Coalition/via REUTERS

Israel’s Defense Minister has vowed to forestall an assistance vessel carrying Greta Thunberg and different activists from reaching the Gaza Strip.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday (June 8, 2025) that Israel wouldn't let anyone to interruption its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which helium said was aimed astatine preventing Hamas from importing arms.

Ms. Thunberg, a clime campaigner is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vas departed Sicily past Sunday connected a ngo that aims to interruption the oversea blockade of Gaza and present humanitarian aid, portion raising consciousness implicit the increasing humanitarian situation successful the Palestinian enclave.

The activists had said they planned to scope Gaza’s territorial waters arsenic aboriginal arsenic Sunday.

Rima Hassan, a French subordinate of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel due to the fact that of her absorption to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.

After a three-month full blockade aimed astatine pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing immoderate basal assistance into Gaza past month, but humanitarian workers person warned of famine unless the blockade and the warfare end.

An effort past period by Freedom Flotilla to scope Gaza by oversea failed aft different of the group’s vessels was attacked by 2 drones portion sailing successful planetary waters disconnected Malta. The radical blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the beforehand conception of the ship.

Published - June 08, 2025 05:41 p.m. IST