Israel Halts Humanitarian Aid Ship Heading to Gaza

According to a recent report by Reuters, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the military to prevent a charity vessel from reaching Gaza. This boat, named Madleen and operated by the Freedom Flotilla coalition (FFC), is carrying activists including renowned climate advocate greta Thunberg. The yacht departed from Sicily on June 6 and is currently navigating near the Egyptian coast,making its way toward the besieged Gaza Strip.

Katz made it clear in his statement that he has directed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to ensure that Madleen does not reach its destination.He addressed Thunberg and her fellow activists directly, warning them against proceeding further: “You’d better turn back because you will not reach Gaza.”

Thunberg explained her participation in this mission as an effort to confront what she describes as Israel’s unlawful blockade and escalating military actions in Gaza. She aims to draw attention to the dire humanitarian situation there while dismissing accusations of antisemitism leveled against her.

The backdrop of this incident includes a significant escalation in violence between Israel and Hamas following an unexpected attack by Hamas militants in October 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and numerous hostages taken into Gaza. In response, more than 54,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives due to ongoing Israeli military operations according to health officials in Gaza. The United Nations has raised alarms about widespread famine threatening most of GazaS population of approximately 2.3 million people.

Katz defended the blockade as crucial for national security purposes aimed at dismantling Hamas’s capabilities. He stated emphatically that “the State of Israel will not allow anyone to break the naval blockade on Gaza,” emphasizing its role in preventing weapon transfers.

The Madleen is reportedly carrying minimal supplies such as rice and baby formula intended for symbolic aid rather than ample relief efforts. FFC spokesperson Hay Sha Wiya mentioned that they are currently about 160 nautical miles away from their target destination while preparing for potential interception by Israeli forces.

Along with Thunberg, there are eleven other crew members aboard Madleen including Rima Hassan, a French member of Parliament representing Europe. reports suggest that Israeli authorities plan on intercepting the yacht before it can reach Gazan shores and escorting it back to Ashdod port where deportation procedures would follow.This situation echoes past incidents like the tragic events involving turkish ship Mavi Marmara back in 2010 when Israeli commandos killed ten individuals during an attempt to stop another flotilla headed towards Gaza.

(Reporting credits: Crispian Balmer et al.; Edited content)