Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has pledged to prevent the aid vessel Madleen, carrying activists including Greta Thunberg, from reaching Gaza. The vessel departed from Sicily with the intent to breach Israel’s naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid in response to a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region. As of Sunday, it was about 160 nautical miles from Gaza, heading north of the Egyptian city of Rosetta. Katz has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to stop what he calls the “Madelaine hate flotilla,” urging the activists to turn back. He emphasized that Israel would act against any attempts to assist terrorist organizations by land, sea, or air.
Onboard Madleen are several prominent figures, such as Brazilian politician Thiago Avila and French MEP Rima Hassan. Thunberg stated the mission is vital, arguing that ceasing efforts would equate to losing humanity, despite the dangers involved. She highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, where allegations of genocide have been fervently denied by Israel.
Following warnings of rising starvation, Israel began allowing limited aid into Gaza after a near three-month blockade. However, the implementation of this aid distribution by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been controversial. Reports indicate that Israeli forces have killed Palestinians seeking aid, and experts warn of a looming famine in the enclave, which is controlled by Hamas.
The blockade is a strategic measure by Israel to pressure Hamas to release hostages taken during the deadly attacks on October 7, 2023. The conflict has escalated significantly, resulting in over 54,000 deaths in Gaza, as reported by local health authorities.
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