Israeli forces commanded a charity in an attempt to break a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, which is heading for Israeli ports along with 12 crew members, including activist Greta Thunberg, officials said Sunday.
The British-signed yacht Madleen, run by the Pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Alliance (FFC), aims to provide symbolic assistance to Gaza late Monday and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there.
The FFC said on the telegram account, however, that the ship was at night when it reached shore. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later confirmed that it was under Israeli control.
The ministry wrote on X: “The 'selfie yacht' of the celebrity is heading safely to the coast of Israel. Passengers are expected to return to their home country.”
The ministry later added that all passengers were safe and harmless. “The sandwiches and water were provided to them. The show is over.”
Swedish climate athlete Thunberg and European Parliament French MP Rima Hassan have 12 crew members.
Hassan posted on X: “The crew of the Free Fleet was arrested by Israeli troops in international waters at around 2 a.m.
Yachts are carrying a small portion of humanitarian aid, including rice and infant formula. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would be taken to Gaza. It reads: “The small amount of aid on the yacht and the aid not consumed by 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through genuine humanitarian channels.”
Israeli Defense Minister Katz ordered the military to prevent Madleen from arriving in Gaza on Sunday, saying the mission was to support Hamas' propaganda efforts.
Israel imposed a naval blockade in coastal enclaves after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.
According to Israeli Tally, the blockade has been through multiple conflicts, including the current war, which began on October 7, 2023 with Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people.
Gaza's Ministry of Health said more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli military movement began. The United Nations warns that most of Gaza's more than 2 million residents face famine.
The Israeli government said the lockdown was crucial to preventing weapons from reaching Hamas.
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory, supported the FFC operation and urged other ships to challenge the Gaza blockade on Sunday.
“The journey of Madleen may have ended, but the mission is not over yet. Every Mediterranean port must send ships to Gaza,” she wrote on X.
