Israeli forces intercepted the charity vessel Madleen, which was attempting to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, as reported by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC). The British-flagged yacht, known for its pro-Palestinian stance, set sail from Sicily on June 6 and intended to arrive in Gaza soon after the interception, which involved a communication from the Israeli Navy urging the vessel to change course due to the maritime blockade. The yacht was carrying a 12-person crew, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, and held a symbolic shipment of humanitarian supplies such as rice and baby formula.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared the mission a propaganda effort supporting Hamas and ordered the military to prevent the yacht’s arrival at Gaza. Israel has maintained a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control in 2007, a measure that has continued amid ongoing conflicts, including a recent war that erupted following a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths. The health ministry in Gaza reports that the ongoing Israeli military campaign has led to over 54,000 Palestinian fatalities, with the United Nations warning that the majority of Gaza’s 2 million residents are facing famine. The situation highlights the humanitarian crisis and complex geopolitical tensions surrounding the Gaza Strip.
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