Israel is deporting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian activists who tried to reach Gaza by ship.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that passengers detained on board a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, including activist Greta Thunberg, had been taken to Tel Aviv airport for deportation.
On Monday, Thunberg accused the Israeli authorities of kidnapping after the Madleen was denied entry to Gaza. In her statement, she called on her family, friends and colleagues to put pressure on the Swedish government to secure the immediate release of all participants in the mission, including herself.
Earlier, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) intercepted the Madleen, which was heading to Gaza as part of a mission by the non-profit organisation Freedom Flotilla. This is not the first such action — in 2010, the interception of a similar ship by Israeli commandos led to the deaths of 10 activists. Thunberg and other participants in the current voyage claim that they are only carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
12 people on ship
The Madleen set sail on June 1 from the Italian port of San Giovanni Li Cuti in Catania as part of a mission by the Freedom Flotilla civil coalition, which aims to break the blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid there. On board the 18-metre vessel were volunteers from various countries who had stated in advance that they would remain peaceful and offer no resistance in the event of intervention by the Israeli military.
Among the participants were French MEP Rima Hassan, German citizen Yasemin Ajar, Turkish activist Hüseyin Şuayb Ordu, Tiago Avila from Brazil, Sergio Toribio from Spain, Dutch citizen Marco van Rennes, French citizens Baptiste André, Reva Viard, Pascal Murieras and Janis Mhamdi, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, and journalist Omar Fayad.
Madleen’s mission was organised against the backdrop of a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where massive Israeli attacks have been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of France Unbowed (LFI), continues to support the humanitarian mission in Gaza on X:
“The futility of the French services. The families of all the prisoners from the ship #Madleen are receiving news from their consular services. Except for the French. Our families have no news, even though the illegal detention has been going on for almost 24 hours. We, the “Rebels,” also have no news. Despite our requests at the highest level, we do not even know where the prisoners are. Have the French services at least asked to contact them? How can we express the disgust this causes us? How can our country stoop so low? Why are French citizens treating their fellow citizens this way?”
He also added:
“The UN rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has stated that “breaking the blockade is legitimate” and has called for new joint humanitarian initiatives to combat genocide in Gaza. Israel has absolutely no right to intercept and detain a ship delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. You know that the blockade must be broken by national naval forces, not volunteers risking their lives.”
