CNN
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Israel has intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg and different outstanding activists, detaining these onboard, with the vessel being taken to Israel.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) earlier mentioned the Israeli army had boarded the “Madleen,” which was trying to ship support to Gaza.
“The passengers are anticipated to return to their house international locations,” Israel’s Overseas Ministry mentioned in a submit on X.
Local weather activist Thunberg, “Sport of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan – a French member of the European Parliament – are amongst these on the Madleen.
The FFC group posted a photograph on Telegram early Monday native time, displaying members of the crew sitting contained in the boat carrying lifejackets and with their palms within the air. No Israel Protection Power troopers could be seen within the picture.
In an earlier submit, the FFC mentioned the ship had come “beneath assault in worldwide waters.”
“Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white paint-like substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being performed over the radio,” FFC mentioned on its Telegram channel.
Israel has repeatedly vowed to cease the help boat from reaching Gaza, and described the ship as a “selfie yacht” carrying “celebrities.”
“I’ve instructed the IDF to make sure that the ‘Madleen’ flotilla doesn’t attain Gaza,” Israeli protection minister Israel Katz mentioned on Sunday.
The help boat first reported indicators of Israeli army motion within the early hours on Monday morning.
“Simply a short time in the past, two Israeli drones had been above the FFC Madleen and dropped or sprayed some form of white chemical on the Madleen. Now the Madleen appears to be surrounded by Israeli naval commandos,” Huwaida Arraf, Freedom Flotilla organizer and steering committee member and US human rights lawyer, informed CNN.
In a video livestreamed from the boat and posted by the FFC, activist Yasmin Acar confirmed a white substance on the deck, saying it had been dropped on the vessel. Acar was later heard saying it was affecting her eyes. Earlier than the reside stream ended, Acar could possibly be heard saying the Israeli army was speaking with the board.
Israel’s international ministry mentioned the group “tried to stage a media provocation whose sole goal was to achieve publicity.”
“There are methods to ship support to the Gaza Strip — they don’t contain Instagram selfies,” it added.
The “Madleen” is a part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a company that has campaigned in opposition to Israel’s blockade of Gaza and tried to interrupt the siege by boat.
The crew, which has publicized the situation of the ship with a web based tracker, started getting ready for the potential of interception by the Israeli army. As of Monday morning, the UK-flagged civilian vessel was north of Egypt within the Mediterranean Sea, slowly approaching the coast of Gaza.
“We all know that it’s a really dangerous mission and we all know that earlier experiences with flotillas like this have resulted in assaults, violence and even circumstances of loss of life,” Thunberg informed CNN on Saturday.
After an 11-week blockade that prevented any humanitarian support from coming into Gaza, Israel has begun permitting a trickle of support in as soon as once more.
However it is just a fraction of the help that entered the enclave earlier than the battle, with humanitarian organizations warning of a worsening humanitarian disaster and the rising danger of widespread famine.
Israel’s international ministry earlier posted video on X displaying a Navy staffer issuing what seems to be a radio message to the vessel.
“The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to maritime site visitors,” the unidentified Navy employees member is heard saying. She is later heard saying support must be delivered by “established channels.”
In a press release, the ministry mentioned “unauthorized makes an attempt to breach the blockade are harmful, illegal, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.”
“We name on all actors to behave responsibly and to channel humanitarian support by reputable, coordinated mechanisms, not by provocation,” the ministry added in a press release on Monday native time.
This can be a growing story and will probably be up to date.
