TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — On Sunday, Israel's government issued a firm statement declaring its intention to prevent an aid boat, the Madleen, from reaching the Gaza Strip. The vessel is carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg along with 11 other activists who are part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The boat set sail from Sicily last Sunday, aiming to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and deliver essential humanitarian aid while raising awareness about the worsening humanitarian crisis stemming from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has lasted for 20 months.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the blockade is critical for preventing Hamas from importing arms, asserting, "To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza." The activists initially planned to reach Gaza's territorial waters as early as Sunday.
Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist aboard the Madleen, shared a video on social media indicating that their tracking and communication devices appeared to be compromised approximately 160 nautical miles from Gaza. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament with Palestinian heritage, is among those on board. She has previously faced entry bans to Israel due to her stance against Israeli policies toward Palestinians.
Following a prolonged 2.5-month blockade aimed at weakening Hamas, Israel commenced allowing limited basic aid into Gaza last month. However, humanitarian workers have issued grave warnings about the imminent risk of famine unless the blockade is lifted and military operations cease. Last month, another attempt by the Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza was thwarted when one of their vessels was attacked by drones while in international waters off Malta, a move the group attributes to Israeli military actions.
Since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt have implemented varying levels of blockade on the territory. Critics argue that this blockade constitutes collective punishment against Gaza’s approximately 2 million residents. At the onset of the war, triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel initially closed off Gaza to all aid but later began allowing some supplies under pressure from the United States. In early March, shortly before Israel resumed hostilities against Hamas, all imports including food, fuel, and medicine were again blocked.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in around 1,200 deaths, predominantly among civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages. A considerable number of hostages have been released through ceasefire agreements, though 55 remain in captivity, with reports suggesting that many are presumed dead. In response, Israel’s military campaign has reportedly resulted in over 54,000 Palestinian deaths, according to data from the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants among the deceased.
The ongoing conflict has devastated significant portions of Gaza, displacing around 90% of its population and leaving them heavily reliant on international humanitarian aid to survive. As the situation continues to unfold, the repercussions of the blockade and the military operations remain a focal point for both humanitarian organizations and activists around the world.
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For more information on the ongoing conflict, visit https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
