Greta Thunberg Gaza flotilla – stay: Aid ship reaches port after Israel vows to deport all activists on board | EUROtoday

Gaza-bound British-flagged yacht “Madleen” is approaching Ashdod port in Israel.

The 12-person Madleen set sail for Gaza eight days in the past from the port of Catania in Sicily.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), liable for the boat, mentioned the journey aimed “to break Israel’s more than 17-year illegal and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip”.

The ship’s location was being monitored stay by Forensic Architecture utilizing a Garmin stay tracker on board earlier than that tracker was switched off when Israel intercepted the vessel.

Speaking aboard the Madleen final week, Ms Thunberg advised Middle East Eye: “We have promised ourselves and we have promised the Palestinian people to do everything we can.

“When our governments are failing us … then it falls on us to step up and be the adults in the room.

“We are just human beings, very concerned about what’s happening, and do not accept what is going on.”

Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, has written to overseas secretary David Lammy, urging him to take motion over the Madleen ship.

Ms Whittome wrote within the letter: “I write regarding the Madleen aid flotilla, a UK-flagged vessel, which has been seized by Israel.

“Our government must act now to ensure the safety of all on board, and ensure that vital humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza without delay.

“I am gravely concerned for the welfare of those on board the Madleen in light of Israel’s previous actions in seizing aid ships.

“In 2010, 10 people were killed, while 30 more were injured, after Israeli forces opened fire on a vessel they had seized, in what the UNHCR described as an ‘unacceptable level of brutality’.

“The interception of theMadleen represents yet another flagrant violation of international law. I also urge you to bring all possible political pressure to ensure that Israel no longer uses aid as a weapon.”

US President Donald Trump plans to talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu right now, two White House officers have mentioned.

The name comes as Trump has been making an attempt to speed up support into Gaza and to influence Iran to surrender its nuclear program.

Trump has sometimes expressed frustration with Netanyahu. Last week, he mentioned he had warned Netanyahu to not take actions that would disrupt nuclear talks with Iran.

“I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we’re very close to a solution now,” Trump advised reporters within the Oval Office. “That could change at any moment.”

Hundreds of persons are protesting exterior the UK overseas workplace in central London, demanding protected passage for the Madleen ship.

Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of a blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized energy from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.

Israel says the blockade is required to forestall Hamas from importing arms, whereas critics say it quantities to collective punishment of Gaza’s Palestinian inhabitants.

Israel sealed off Gaza from all support within the early days of the struggle ignited by the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, however later relented below US stress.

In early March, shortly earlier than Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the nation once more blocked all imports, together with meals, gas and drugs.

Israeli authorities spokesman David Mencer gave a press convention earlier through which he claimed the Madleen was a “selfie yacht”.

A Palestinian lady who the Madleen vessel that was intercepted by Israeli forces is called after says she is “deeply disheartened” by its seize.

Madleen Kulab, believed to be Gaza’s solely feminine fisherman, advised Al Jazera: “I was deeply disheartened. I strongly anticipated this scenario, but I was truly hoping for a miracle that somehow the ship would break the blockade and reach Gaza.”