The Israeli government has made a commitment to halt any attempts by an aid vessel, which includes climate activist Greta Thunberg, from reaching the Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the country will maintain its naval blockade on the territory, which he claims is essential to prevent Hamas from acquiring weapons. He specifically addressed Thunberg and her associates, urging them to reconsider their journey, as their destination will remain unattainable.
Thunberg is part of a group of twelve activists aboard the vessel named Madleen, which is organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The boat commenced its journey from Sicily with the intent of challenging the maritime blockade imposed on Gaza and delivering much-needed humanitarian supplies. The activists also seek to raise awareness regarding the humanitarian crisis that has developed as a result of the ongoing conflict that began over 20 months ago.
On social media, Thiago Avila, a Brazilian activist traveling on the ship, shared a video indicating that their tracking and communication systems seemed to be facing interference while approximately 160 nautical miles away from Gaza. Notably, Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament of Palestinian descent, is also on board but has previously been denied entry into Israel due to her dissent against its policies concerning Palestinians.
Although Israel had implemented a total blockade to exert pressure on Hamas, they began allowing limited aid into Gaza last month. However, humanitarian organizations have expressed concerns about the impending famine unless the blockade is lifted along with a cessation of military actions. A prior attempt by the Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza was thwarted when another of its vessels encountered drone attacks, which the group attributes to Israel.
Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, both Israel and Egypt have maintained varied blockades on the region. Critics argue that this blockade constitutes collective punishment for the approximately two million Palestinians living in Gaza. Following the onset of the current war, initiated by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israel initially cut off all aid but later resumed limited supplies due to international pressure.
The conflict has escalated, with reports indicating that Hamas militants killed about 1,200 individuals during the initial attack and took more than 250 hostages, many of whom have since been released through ceasefire negotiations. Meanwhile, Israel's military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in Gaza, with a predominantly civilian population among the casualties. The ongoing war has significantly devastated the region and left around 90% of its residents dependent on international humanitarian assistance.
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