Gaza-bound boat carrying Greta Thunberg spotted off Israel’s coast

A boat carrying 12 activists attempting to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza was seen off Israel’s coast en route to Ashdod port, Associated Press reported from the scene.

Among those on board was climate activist Greta Thunberg. Israeli officials have said that the passengers will be taken to a detention facility before being deported.

The group set sail in protest against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and the strict limitations on humanitarian aid entering the territory. With over two million Palestinians facing increasing threats of famine, the conflict has been described as one of the most devastating since the Second World War.

Israeli forces intercepted a boat carrying 12 pro-Palestinian activists, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, as it attempted to breach the naval blockade of Gaza. The vessel was escorted to Ashdod port on Monday evening, where the passengers are expected to be detained and subsequently deported.

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Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had ordered the navy to intercept the boat named Madleen before it could reach Gaza, dismissing the mission as a pro-Hamas publicity stunt. He also said the activists would be shown footage of the October 7, 2023 attacks carried out by Hamas-led militants in southern Israel, which triggered the ongoing war.

Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, denounced the seizure of the vessel as “state terrorism” and praised the detained activists for their solidarity.

Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza has been in place since 2007, when Hamas took control of the territory. Officials maintain that the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from being smuggled to the militant group. The restrictions have remained throughout multiple conflicts, including the current war that erupted after the October 7 assault, which Israel says killed more than 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.