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| Gaza-bound activist boat with Greta Thunberg docks in Israel | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A yacht carrying 12 activists that was trying to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza has been towed to the Israeli port city of Ashdod, after it was seized by Israeli forces. | |
| Israel's foreign ministry said the boat had docked and that those aboard the vessel, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were "undergoing medical examinations to ensure they are in good health". | |
| The Madleen, which was aiming to bring a "symbolic" amount of aid to the enclave in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, was intercepted by Israeli forces in the early hours of Monday. | |
| Israel has dismissed the mission as a "selfie yacht", saying it would deport the activists to their home countries. | |
| Watch: Moment Israeli forces board Gaza aid boat | Watch: Moment Israeli forces board Gaza aid boat |
| Israel's foreign ministry earlier shared footage of soldiers handing out sandwiches and water bottles to the activists when it was intercepted. | |
| "Connection has been lost" on the Madleen, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) campaign group said on the Telegram app. It posted a photo showing people in life jackets sitting with their hands up. | "Connection has been lost" on the Madleen, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) campaign group said on the Telegram app. It posted a photo showing people in life jackets sitting with their hands up. |
| Israel says its blockade on Gaza is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas fighters in Gaza. | Israel says its blockade on Gaza is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas fighters in Gaza. |
| After reporting that the yacht had been boarded, the FFC posted short, pre-recorded videos of some of the activists, including Thunberg. | After reporting that the yacht had been boarded, the FFC posted short, pre-recorded videos of some of the activists, including Thunberg. |
| In the footage, activists say "if you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped" by the Israeli military or forces supporting Israel. | In the footage, activists say "if you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped" by the Israeli military or forces supporting Israel. |
| On Sunday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would act against any attempt to breach the blockade. | On Sunday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would act against any attempt to breach the blockade. |
| He wrote in a post on X: "I have instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act to prevent the 'Madeleine' [sic] hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza - and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end." | He wrote in a post on X: "I have instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act to prevent the 'Madeleine' [sic] hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza - and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end." |
| The FFC has argued that the sea blockade is illegal, characterising Katz's statement as an example of Israel threatening the unlawful use of force against civilians and "attempting to justify that violence with smears". | The FFC has argued that the sea blockade is illegal, characterising Katz's statement as an example of Israel threatening the unlawful use of force against civilians and "attempting to justify that violence with smears". |
| "We will not be intimidated. The world is watching," FFC press officer Hay Sha Wiya said on Sunday. | |
| "The Madleen is a civilian vessel, unarmed and sailing in international waters, carrying humanitarian aid and human rights defenders from across the globe... Israel has no right to obstruct our effort to reach Gaza." | "The Madleen is a civilian vessel, unarmed and sailing in international waters, carrying humanitarian aid and human rights defenders from across the globe... Israel has no right to obstruct our effort to reach Gaza." |
| The Madleen is carrying a symbolic quantity of aid, including rice and baby formula, the group said. | The Madleen is carrying a symbolic quantity of aid, including rice and baby formula, the group said. |
| Citizens of Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Turkey are onboard. | Citizens of Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Turkey are onboard. |
| In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish activists when they boarded the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was leading an aid flotilla towards Gaza. | In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish activists when they boarded the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was leading an aid flotilla towards Gaza. |
| Israel recently began to allow limited aid into Gaza after a three-month land blockade, prioritising distribution through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by Israel and the US but widely condemned by humanitarian groups. | Israel recently began to allow limited aid into Gaza after a three-month land blockade, prioritising distribution through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by Israel and the US but widely condemned by humanitarian groups. |
| The UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk, said last week Palestinians were being presented with the "grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available". | The UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk, said last week Palestinians were being presented with the "grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available". |
| In a post on X early on Monday, the Israeli foreign ministry said: "While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity - and which included less than a single truckload of aid - more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza. | |
| "There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip - they do not involve Instagram selfies." | "There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip - they do not involve Instagram selfies." |
| It is 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the unprecedented Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. | It is 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the unprecedented Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. |
| At least 54,880 people have been killed in Gaza since, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. | At least 54,880 people have been killed in Gaza since, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. |