CNN
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Israel vowed on Sunday to cease an assist boat carrying Greta Thunberg and different activists on board from reaching Gaza.
As of Sunday night, the UK-flagged civilian vessel was north of Egypt within the Mediterranean Sea, slowly approaching the coast of Gaza. The “Madleen” is a part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a corporation that has campaigned in opposition to Israel’s blockade of Gaza and tried to interrupt the siege by boat.
“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 instances of loss of life,” Thunberg told CNN on Saturday.
“However after all none of these dangers are even remotely as excessive as the chance that Palestinians are dealing with on a regular basis simply by attempting to outlive.”
Protection Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, wouldn’t make it to the besieged enclave.
“I’ve instructed the IDF to make sure that the ‘Madleen’ flotilla doesn’t attain Gaza,” stated Katz in an announcement, referring to the identify of the ship.
Katz warned the ship that “you’d higher flip again – as a result of you’ll not attain Gaza.”
Thunberg and the Madleen count on to achieve Gaza inside the subsequent day, organizer Yasemin Acar advised CNN on Saturday.
“We’re nonetheless on our strategy to Gaza. There’s no turning again, and we’re hoping to make it into Gaza inside two days,” Acar stated.
The coalition campaigns to finish Israel’s blockade of Gaza and has tried to achieve the enclave a number of instances previously
After an 11-week blockade that prevented any humanitarian assist from getting into Gaza, Israel has begun permitting a trickle of assist in as soon as once more.
However it’s only 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 threat of widespread famine.
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Particular Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, stated on social media that the flotilla carries greater than meals.
“It isn’t solely the help, it’s the HUMANITY THEY CARRY. For all of us,” she stated.
The crew, which has publicized the placement of the ship with an internet tracker, started getting ready for the potential for interception by the Israeli army.
Amongst these becoming a member of the crew are Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, and “Sport of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham.
“From each a authorized and ethical standpoint, Israel has no proper to intercept this vessel,” the group stated in an announcement.
“The folks of Gaza, below siege, ravenous, and dealing with the specter of annihilation, have the authorized proper to determine who enters their territories.”
Final month, one other vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition got here below what its organizers stated was an Israeli drone assault off the coast of Malta in worldwide waters. The group didn’t present proof that the drone was Israeli, whereas the Israeli army has declined to touch upon the alleged assault.
The ship, the “Conscience,” was heading to Malta, the place a big contingent of activists had been attributable to board earlier than it departed for Gaza, greater than 1,000 miles away, however had not made it into port, the group stated.
The coalition advised CNN that Thunberg was amongst those that had been anticipated to board the vessel in Malta.
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