Israel blocks Greta Thunberg stunt voyage from reaching Gaza

Israeli forces have boarded an activist vessel attempting to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said early on Monday.

The British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the anti-Israel FFC, had departed from Sicily on June 6 and had hoped to reach Gaza later in the day, when the interception occurred, the group said on social media.

Among those on board the boat are controversial Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

Shortly before the FFC statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a video on social media showing the Israeli Navy communicating with the Madleen over a loudspeaker, urging it to change course.

"The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade," a soldier said. "If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the (Israeli) port of Ashdod."

The yacht, with its 12-person crew, was carrying a performative shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military on Sunday to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.

Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.

The blockade has remained in place through multiple conflicts, including the current war, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people.

The Israeli government says the blockade is essential to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer, Yomna Ehab and Enas Alashray; Editing by Richard Chang)