Israel blocks Greta’s Gaza aid mission

Jerusalem

 Israel has ordered its military to stop a humanitarian aid vessel, the Madleen, carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other members of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, from reaching Gaza. The boat, which departed from Catania, Italy, on June 1, aimed to challenge Israel’s naval blockade and deliver aid to the besieged region.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz labeled Thunberg an “antisemite” and described the activists as “Hamas propaganda mouthpieces.” He declared, “Turn back because you will not reach Gaza,” asserting that Israel would not permit any breach of its blockade intended to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.

As the Madleen reportedly entered Egyptian waters, Gaza continued to witness deadly violence. According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution point west of Rafah, killing at least five and injuring dozens. The victims were reportedly heading toward the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation site, a US-backed organization criticized by the UN for alleged lack of neutrality.

Later, another Israeli airstrike on a tent in Al-Mawasi camp claimed five more lives, including two girls. Emergency responders brought casualties to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, where grieving families mourned outside.

Israel also accused agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal of being a Hamas affiliate, a charge he denied, saying their operations comply with international humanitarian law. The ongoing conflict began with the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,218 people in Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry now reports over 54,880 deaths in Gaza, with the majority being civilians—figures considered credible by the UN.