Israeli authorities have announced the deportation of 12 pro-Palestinian activists, including renowned environmentalist Greta Thunberg, following the interception of their Gaza-bound aid boat by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean on Monday. The activists were aboard a yacht named Madleen, which was reportedly attempting to deliver a small quantity of aid to Gaza in defiance of the ongoing Israeli naval blockade, aimed at drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that Thunberg departed from Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning en route to France, agreeing to the deportation process. However, five of the six French nationals involved have refused to sign deportation orders, leading to their forthcoming appearance before an Israeli judicial authority.
Details of the incident and international reactions
The yacht Madleen was intercepted while trying to deliver essential supplies, which the activists characterized as a symbolic act. In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed the mission, referring to the vessel as a “selfie yacht.” After the boat’s arrival at Ashdod port on Monday, the activists were transferred to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
“Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation,”
the ministry stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). In a follow-up post earlier on Tuesday, they confirmed Thunberg’s departure and shared an image of her on the plane.
France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, provided updates regarding the detained French activists, stating that one had agreed to leave voluntarily while the others would face forced deportation proceedings. Among the six French nationals detained were notable figures such as MEP Rima Hassan and Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad.
Background of the aid mission
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group behind the yacht, issued a statement asserting its commitment to the volunteers involved, demanding their immediate release and the return of the seized aid. They claimed that the Madleen was carrying crucial supplies, including baby formula, food, and medicine, and had set sail from Italy on June 1 to raise awareness of the dire starvation conditions in Gaza.
According to Israel, the blockade is essential to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas militants. Recently, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that any attempts to breach the blockade would be met with decisive action. The FFC has condemned the blockade as illegal, characterizing Katz’s comments as justifications for violence against civilians.
The situation has historical echoes, recalling the tragic events of 2010 when Israeli commandos killed ten Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara, which was part of a flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Gaza.
In response to the current humanitarian situation, Israel has recently begun allowing limited aid into Gaza, prioritizing distribution through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an initiative backed by Israel and the U.S., yet criticized by various humanitarian organizations for its restrictions.
In a statement on X earlier this week, the Israeli Foreign Ministry emphasized, “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.” The Ministry highlighted that there are legitimate channels for delivering aid that do not involve media spectacles.
This incident occurs amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has seen significant casualties following Israel’s military campaign launched in response to a major Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and numerous hostages taken. Reports indicate that over 54,880 individuals have lost their lives in Gaza since that date, according to the local Hamas-run health ministry.