Israel dismissed the voyage as a pro-Hamas publicity stunt. “The tiny quantity of support that was on the yacht and never consumed by the ‘celebrities’ can be transferred to Gaza via actual humanitarian channels,” the International Ministry mentioned.
Israel launched a picture of Thunberg sitting on a aircraft forward of its departure for Paris. She normally refuses to fly due to the carbon emissions of the airline trade.
Organisers launched a video of Thunberg on Monday, filmed on board the vessel earlier than it was captured, by which she mentioned that if it had been taken, that might imply Israel had kidnapped her and the remainder of the crew in worldwide waters.
MOCKED BY TRUMP
United States President Donald Trump mocked this: “I believe Israel has sufficient issues with out kidnapping Greta Thunberg,” he mentioned. “She’s a younger, indignant particular person … I believe she has to go to an anger administration class.”
Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took management of Gaza in 2007. Israel says it goals to cease weapons from reaching Hamas.
The blockade has remained in place via conflicts, together with the current warfare, which started when Hamas-led militants rampaged via southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing greater than 1,200 folks and taking 251 hostages by Israeli tallies.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in opposition to Hamas has since killed greater than 54,000 Palestinians, in accordance with well being officers in Hamas-run Gaza, and destroyed a lot of the houses of its 2.3 million residents.
In March, Israel imposed a complete blockade of all provides reaching Gaza, which the United Nations says has pushed the inhabitants to the brink of famine. Over the previous two weeks, Israel has allowed restricted meals provides to be distributed by a brand new Israeli-backed group, a step Israel says is critical to forestall Hamas from diverting support.
