Israel orders military to block aid flotilla carrying Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza
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Israel orders military to stop Greta Thunberg’s boat as six killed by gunfire near aid centre
Israel’s government told the military to stop a charity aid boat carrying activists including Greta Thunberg from reaching the Gaza Strip. Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed his nation wouldn’t allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory. He said: “To the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists – I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza.” Thunburg is among 12 aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The British-flagged yacht departed Sicily last week on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis.
Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed his nation wouldn’t allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms.
He said in a statement on Sunday: “To the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists – I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza.”
Climate campaigner Thunberg is among 12 aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
The British-flagged yacht departed Sicily last week on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis 20 months into the Israel-Hamas war.
It comes as six Palestinians were killed and several others wounded by Israeli gunfire in the latest deadly incident close to an aid distribution centre in southern Gaza.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency says people had gathered to collect food supplies on Saturday morning when the shooting started. Reports quoting an eyewitness said the Israelis opened fire when people tried to advance towards the site.
Activist Greta Thunberg sits aboard the aid ship Madleen (via REUTERS)
The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at suspects who approached them in a threatening manner.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured trying to get to the distribution centre this week.
Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, who is on board Thunberg’s boat, posted a video on social media saying someone appeared to be jamming their tracking and communication devices about 160 nautical miles from Gaza.
Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian descent, is among the others.
She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.
Thunberg said she joined the Madleen crew to “challenge Israel’s illegal siege and escalating war crimes” in Gaza and highlight the urgent need for humanitarian aid. She has rejected previous Israeli accusations of anti-Semitism.
It’s the 6th day of our journey onboard the Madleen to #breakthesiege of Gaza and create a people’s humanitarian sea corridor! The Freedom Flotilla Coalition will never stop due to the Zionists threats. We know we have billions of people along with the 12 of us on this boat! pic.twitter.com/FfIDDtVbX7 — Thiago Ávila | Gaza Freedom Flotilla (@thiagoavilabr) June 6, 2025
Israel went to war with Hamas in October 2023 after the Islamist militants launched a murderous surprise attack on southern Israel, killing more 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to the enclave.
More than 54,000 Palestinians have died during the ongoing Israeli assault, according to Gaza health authorities, with much of the territory reduced to rubble. The United Nations has warned that most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is at risk of famine.
Katz said the blockade was essential to Israel’s national security as it seeks to eliminate Hamas.
“The State of Israel will not allow anyone to break the naval blockade on Gaza, whose primary purpose is to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas,” he said.
Israel military ordered to block Greta Thunberg-backed aid ship to Gaza as civilian death toll mounts
The aid vessel Madleen, organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed from Catania, Italy on June 1 and is reportedly now in Egyptian waters. The ship’s mission to deliver food aid comes a month after another flotilla vessel, Conscience, was bombed by drones off Malta. The attack has been widely blamed on Israel, though Tel Aviv has not commented. At least 10 people were reported killed in Israeli strikes, including five civilians who were shot while approaching a food distribution site near Rafah.
The aid vessel Madleen, organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed from Catania, Italy on June 1 and is reportedly now in Egyptian waters, nearing its destination. The ship’s mission to deliver food aid comes a month after another flotilla vessel, Conscience, was bombed by drones off Malta. The attack has been widely blamed on Israel, though Tel Aviv has not commented.
“I have instructed the military to prevent the Madleen flotilla from reaching Gaza,” Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday. He labelled the activists “Hamas propaganda mouthpieces” and described Thunberg as an “antisemite”, asserting that the naval blockade is intended to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.
The naval blockade has been in place since 2007. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition insists its mission is purely humanitarian and challenges the legality of the siege under international law.
Meanwhile in Gaza, the death toll continues to climb. On Sunday, at least 10 people were reported killed in Israeli strikes, including five civilians who were shot while approaching a food distribution site near Rafah, and five more who were killed when a tent in the Al-Mawasi displacement camp was hit overnight.
Eyewitnesses said the group targeted near the aid centre had gathered at dawn in search of food. The Israeli military said they had entered a declared “active combat zone” and posed a threat to soldiers, though civil defence officials disputed that account.
“We’re just trying to reach aid,” said Abdallah Nour al-Din, one of the survivors. “They shot at us without warning.”
Video footage from outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis showed grieving relatives identifying blood-stained bodies. “I can’t see you like this,” one woman sobbed by her father’s body.
The Gaza Health Ministry, which the UN considers a reliable source, said the war has now killed 54,880 people, the vast majority civilians. The conflict was triggered by Hamas’s deadly October 7 attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,218 people, according to Israeli figures.
Israeli military ordered to block aid flotilla carrying Greta Thunberg
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says it is on a mission aimed at delivering supplies to the Gaza Strip. Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organizations, Israel’s defense minister says.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says it is on a mission aimed at delivering supplies to the Gaza Strip.
Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday ordered the military to block an aid boat on its way to Gaza carrying a dozen activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
Katz instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “to act so that the ‘Madeleine’ hate flotilla does not reach the shores of Gaza — and to take any means necessary to that end,” the minister said in a statement on X.
“Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organizations — at sea, in the air and on land,” Katz said.
Israel orders military to stop Gaza-bound yacht carrying Greta Thunberg
The British-flagged Madleen yacht set sail from Sicily on June 6. It is carrying a symbolic quantity of aid, including rice and baby formula. Israeli media have reported that the military plans to intercept the yacht before it reaches Gaza. In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 people when they boarded a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, that was leading a small flotilla towards Gaza.
Israel says naval blockade vital to its national security
Yacht with activist crew currently off Egyptian coast
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told the military on Sunday to stop a charity boat carrying activists including Sweden’s Greta Thunberg who are planning to defy an Israeli blockade and reach Gaza.Operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the British-flagged Madleen yacht set sail from Sicily on June 6 and is currently off the Egyptian coast, heading slowly towards the Gaza Strip, which is besieged by Israel.”I instructed the IDF to act so that the Madleen … does not reach Gaza,” Katz said in a statement.”To the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-propaganda-spouting friends, I say clearly: You’d better turn back, because you will not reach Gaza.”Climate activist Thunberg said she joined the Madleen crew to “challenge Israel’s illegal siege and escalating war crimes” in Gaza and highlight the urgent need for humanitarian aid. She has rejected previous Israeli accusations of antisemitism.The Madleen is carrying a symbolic quantity of aid, including rice and baby formula, the FFC has said.FFC press officer Hay Sha Wiya said on Sunday the boat was currently some 160 nautical miles (296 km) from Gaza. “We are preparing for the possibility of interception,” she said.Besides Thunberg, there are 11 other crew members aboard, including Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.Israeli media have reported that the military plans to intercept the yacht before it reaches Gaza and escort it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The crew would then be deported.In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 people when they boarded a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, that was leading a small flotilla towards Gaza.
Live: Israel orders blocking Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg
Key PointsIsraeli attacks killed more than 100 people in the last 24 hours. More than 21 people killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza, while at least five killed by gunshot at aid points. Gaza’s main hospitals face imminent shutdown amid
Israeli attacks killed more than 100 people in the last 24 hours
More than 21 people killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza, while at least five killed by gunshot at aid points
Gaza’s main hospitals face imminent shutdown amid fuel shortage