Israeli forces intercepted a charity vessel, the British-flagged yacht Madleen, attempting to reach the Gaza Strip despite an ongoing Israeli naval blockade. The boat, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, set sail from Sicily on June 6 and aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Among the 12-person crew were notable figures including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan.
The Israeli Navy had warned the vessel over loudspeaker, declaring the maritime zone off Gaza closed and suggesting that any humanitarian aid should be delivered through the Israeli port of Ashdod. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had instructed the military to stop the Madleen, labeling its mission as propaganda in support of Hamas.
Israel imposed the naval blockade on Gaza in 2007 following Hamas’s takeover and has maintained it through various conflicts, including the current war that erupted after a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, which led to over 1,200 Israeli deaths. In response, Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the initiation of Israel’s military campaign. The United Nations has raised alarms about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, indicating that most of Gaza’s 2 million residents are at risk of starvation.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has highlighted the symbolic nature of Madleen’s mission, as it aimed to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions. The situation underscores the complexities and heart-wrenching consequences of the conflict for both Israelis and Palestinians.
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