Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has instructed the military to prevent a charity boat carrying activists, including Swedish climate advocate Greta Thunberg, from reaching Gaza in defiance of Israel’s naval blockade.
The boat, named Madleen and operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), set off from Sicily on June 6 under a British flag. It is currently sailing near Egypt and making its way toward the Gaza Strip, which remains under Israeli siege.
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“I’ve directed the IDF to ensure the Madleen does not enter Gaza,” Katz stated, adding a pointed message to Thunberg and her fellow activists: “You won’t reach Gaza—turn back.”
Thunberg said her participation aims to challenge what she calls Israel’s “illegal siege” and to spotlight the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza. She has previously dismissed Israeli claims that she is antisemitic.
According to Gaza health officials, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed amid Israel’s ongoing offensive. The U.N. has warned of a looming famine for most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Katz defended the blockade as vital for Israel’s security, saying it is meant to stop weapons from reaching Hamas.
The Madleen is carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian supplies, including rice and baby formula, according to the FFC. The group’s spokesperson, Hay Sha Wiya, said the vessel was around 160 nautical miles (296 km) from Gaza and that the crew is prepared for potential interception.
In addition to Thunberg, the yacht carries 11 other passengers, including Rima Hassan, a French MEP.
Israeli media reports suggest that the military will intercept the boat before it nears Gaza and divert it to Ashdod port, after which the activists are expected to be deported.
The incident draws comparisons to the 2010 flotilla raid in which Israeli forces killed 10 people aboard the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara during a similar mission to Gaza.
