Climate activist Greta Thunberg and a group of eleven other activists have embarked on a voyage to Gaza. They are aboard a ship aiming to “break Israel’s siege” of the territory, according to organizers.
The vessel, named Madleen, is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. It departed from Catania, a port city in Sicily, southern Italy.
The activists stated at a press conference on Sunday, prior to their departure, that they intend to reach the Gaza Strip’s coast in an attempt to deliver aid and increase “international awareness” regarding the current humanitarian crisis.
“We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying,” Thunberg said, becoming emotional during her address.
“Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide.”
Israel, established following the Holocaust, has strongly refuted allegations of genocide, characterizing them as an antisemitic “blood libel.”
In mid-May, Israel marginally eased its blockade of Gaza after almost three months, permitting a limited amount of humanitarian aid to enter.
Experts have cautioned that Gaza faces a potential famine if more aid is not delivered.
UN agencies and prominent aid organizations report that Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting significantly hinder the delivery of aid to Gaza’s approximately two million Palestinian residents.
Among those participating in the Madleen’s crew are actor Liam Cunningham, known for his role in Game Of Thrones, and Rima Hassan, a French Member of the European Parliament of Palestinian origin. Hassan has been banned from entering Israel due to her vocal opposition to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The activists anticipate a seven-day journey to their destination, assuming they are not intercepted.
Thunberg, who gained international recognition as a climate activist through organizing large-scale demonstrations in Sweden, was previously scheduled to join a prior Freedom Flotilla voyage last month.
That earlier attempt to reach Gaza by sea, which occurred in early May, was unsuccessful after another of the group’s ships, the Conscience, was reportedly attacked by two drones while navigating international waters off the coast of Malta.
The group attributed the attack, which damaged the ship’s front section, to Israel. It marked the latest incident in the ongoing efforts to deliver aid to the Palestinian territory that has been devastated by almost 19 months of conflict.
The Israeli government maintains that the blockade is a measure to pressure Hamas into releasing the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that initiated the conflict.
On that day, Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and kidnapping 251 individuals. Hamas continues to hold 58 hostages, with 23 believed to be alive.
In response, Israel initiated an offensive that has resulted in the deaths of over 52,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
Israel’s bombardment and ground operations have caused widespread destruction throughout the territory and left the majority of its population homeless.
