Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Sunday that he has ordered the military to block a boat carrying international activists — including Greta Thunberg — from reaching Gaza.
The vessel Madleen, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, set sail from Sicily to challenge Israel’s naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid. Among the 12 activists onboard are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, and French-Palestinian EU lawmaker Rima Hassan, who is barred from entering Israel.
“To the antisemitic Greta and her friends, I say clearly: you will not reach Gaza,” Katz said. He emphasized that the blockade exists to stop weapons from reaching Hamas, which Israel labels a terrorist organization responsible for holding hostages and committing war crimes.
The activists planned to reach Gaza’s waters by Sunday. Ávila claimed their GPS was jammed, briefly showing the ship located at Jordan’s Queen Alia Airport — far from the Mediterranean — a sign, he suggested, of impending interception.
A previous flotilla attempt in May was reportedly thwarted by drone strikes. The most infamous attempt to breach the blockade came in 2010, when Israeli forces raided the Mavi Marmara, resulting in 10 activist deaths and international outcry.
Israel, along with Egypt, has restricted Gaza’s access since Hamas took control in 2007. Critics call it collective punishment, while Israel says it’s necessary for security. The war that began on October 7, 2023, has led to devastating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. While some aid is now allowed in, humanitarian groups warn of famine.
As the Madleen continues its mission, tensions rise over how far Israel will go to enforce its blockade — and how global activists will respond.
