Freedom Flotilla: IDF ordered to stop Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg is prepared to give her life in exchange for 100 kilograms of flour for the starving in Gaza.” Let that sink in.

A 22-year-old climate activist is risking her life to deliver food to starving civilians under siege. You don’t have to agree with Greta on climate change or anything else, for that matter, but what you can’t deny is this: while she risks everything to defy a military blockade with sacks of flour, the so-called leaders of the so-called free world won’t even risk a raised eyebrow. Her courage exposes their cowardice.

They could stop this genocide without spilling a drop of their own blood. They could impose sanctions, recognise the State of Palestine, or halt arms shipments. Instead, they do nothing—because doing nothing is easier than challenging power.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has threatened to use “all necessary measures” to stop Greta’s boat, The Madleen, from reaching Gaza. Not because it carries weapons, but because it carries wheat flour and medical supplies.

Ten civilians, unarmed, from across Europe and Latin America, sailing to raise awareness of mass starvation. And for this, Israel declares them enemies. “To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists,” Katz sneered, “you will not reach Gaza.”

Starving civilians. Peaceful aid. International waters. And yet, Greta is branded a terrorist sympathiser for daring to care.

This isn’t diplomacy. This is moral collapse. The world is watching, and our governments are complicit through silence.

Greta’s voyage won’t stop the war. But it tears away the veil of hypocrisy that shields Western foreign policy. It forces us to ask: if you’re not willing to even try to stop the mass killing of civilians, then what exactly do you stand for?

Certainly not justice. And definitely not humanity.

But on Sunday, Israel Katz ordered the Israeli military to stop the ship from getting anywhere near Gaza.

“I have instructed the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] to act so that the hate flotilla … does not reach the shores of Gaza – and to take all necessary measures to that end,” Katz said in a statement.

“To the antisemitic Greta [Thunberg] and her friends who echo Hamas propaganda, I say clearly: You’d better turn back – because you will not reach Gaza. Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or to assist terrorist organisations – by sea, by air, and by land.”

Thunberg, who has said she is taking part in the mission “because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity”, has rejected previous Israeli accusations of antisemitism.

On board the vessel alongside her are 10 other activists from Germany, France, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands. They include Rima Hassan, a French member of the European parliament of Palestinian descent who has been barred from entering Israel.

Responding to Katz on Sunday, they said: “The statement by Israel’s defence minister is yet another example of Israel threatening the unlawful use of force against civilians – and attempting to justify that violence with smears.

“We will not be intimidated,” it added. “The world is watching.”

As of Sunday evening, the Madleen, which left the port of Catania in Sicily, southern Italy, on 1 June, was approximately 160 nautical miles from Gaza.

While writing this Madleen crew have come under attack, and told to throw phones overboard.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has shared a video showing the crew in the moments before the ship was intercepted by Israeli forces.

The crew sat wearing life vests, with their hands in the air and threw their phones in the water.

Greta has put out an SOS stating: “SOS! the volunteers on ‘Madleen’ have been kidnapped by Israeli forces. Pressure their foreign ministries and help us keep them safe!”

God bless all…

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Paul Knaggs