IDF Boards ‘Selfies Yacht’ Ferrying Greta Thunberg and Other Anti-Israel Activists to Gaza

The organization sponsoring a boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists says it lost contact with the group early Monday morning shortly after the Israeli Defense Forces boarded the vessel. The X account associated with the group posted what appears to be video of the group sitting with life jackets awaiting the IDF to board at 2:02 am local time Monday. The video ends before any Israeli forces can be seen boarding the boat.The IDF did not immediately release a statement about any arrests. Israel’s Foreign Ministry, however, posted video similar to that of the boat’s owners. “All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed,” it says. “They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.”Israel’s Defense Minister said earlier on Sunday that troops would arrest everyone on board and reroute the boat to Ashdod, on the coast north of Ashkelon, if the group attempted to enter restricted area around Gaza’s shores. “Israel will not allow anyone to violate the naval blockade on Gaza, which is primarily aimed at preventing the transfer of weapons to Hamas — a murderous terrorist organization that is holding our hostages and committing war crimes,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said.“I have instructed the IDF to ensure that the hate-flotilla Madleen does not reach Gaza. To Greta, the anti-Semite, and her Hamas propaganda-spouting friends, I say clearly: turn around — you will not reach Gaza. Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organizations — by sea, air, or land,” he continued.The Madleen — named after a Gazan fishergirl who is the only woman permitted in her profession and who is prohibited by Gazan authorities to fish aboard boats carrying men — left Sicily on June 1 in a high-profile effort to bring attention to the plight of Gazans caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas. The boat detoured briefly Thursday to pick up four Sudanese castaways who had jumped off a boat carrying 40 people after it started deflating at sea and was approached by Libyan coast guard. The activists said they will ensure the migrants reach safe haven in Europe.The Madleen, whose path is being tracked by mapping group Forensic Architecture, is the latest boat to venture into prohibited waters to demonstrate support for a Palestinian state. At least seven other boats, all part of a group that calls itself the Freedom Flotilla, have sailed for Gaza since 2008.The last boat, the Conscience, attempted to reach Gaza’s shores in May, and was bombed by Israeli forces. The coalition representing the flotilla said the vessel’s engine caught fire and a hole was blown through the hull. Israel has had a naval blockade around Gaza since 2007 to prevent arms shipments to Hamas. In 2010, Israel bombed a Turkish boat aiming to arrive on Gazan shores. While the United Nations criticized the bombing as excessive, it recognized the legality of the blockade.While the activists say they are bringing food and medical supplies with them in order to feed malnourished Gazans, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation created by Israel and America to provide safe passage of food aid reports it has delivered more than 9 million meals since it began operations nearly two weeks ago. The group halted distribution on Saturday after Hamas threatened aid workers. Distribution resumed at three locations on Sunday.

IDF Boards ‘Selfies Yacht’ Ferrying Greta Thunberg and Other Anti-Israel Activists to Gaza

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