Greta Thunberg and other activists were intercepted by Israeli forces while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Amid what the United Nations describes as an “intolerable” humanitarian emergency, Israeli forces intercepted the vessel Madleen as it attempted to reach the Gaza Strip carrying a small consignment of humanitarian supplies. On board were 12 international activists, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and a French MP. According to Thunberg, the group has been “kidnapped” by Israel, which is detaining them while the boat is redirected to the port of Ashdod.
The operation has triggered a wave of criticism. While Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the effort as a “selfie yacht,” international voices have condemned what they see as a systematic strategy to block independent aid to Gaza. “Israel not only obstructs aid deliveries, but also criminalises those who attempt to provide it,” a spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority stated.
After more than three months under near-total blockade, Gaza is enduring a humanitarian catastrophe. The current distribution system, led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—an entity supported by Israel and the United States—has faced criticism for its ineffectiveness and for forcing civilians to cross war-torn areas to access basic rations. The UN has warned that Palestinians face “the cruelest of choices: to starve or risk their lives in search of food.”
Over the weekend, at least four Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire near an aid distribution point. They are merely the latest victims of what many describe as an unsustainable and dehumanising system. From Downing Street, the UK government has called for the situation involving the Madleen to be resolved “with restraint,” but has yet to exert meaningful pressure on Israel.
The incident involving the Madleen highlights not only Gaza’s extreme isolation but also the growing international frustration with a blockade that shows no sign of resolution.
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