On Sunday, Israel's defense minister gave the military orders to stop a boat carrying 12 activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, from reaching Gaza.

Israel Katz issued a statement from his office stating, "I have directed the military to stop the Madleen flotilla from getting to Gaza." "I make it very clear to Greta the antisemite and her friends, who are mouthpieces for Hamas propaganda: you will not make it to Gaza, so turn around."

On Saturday, the Madleen's organizers announced that they had arrived in Egyptian waters and were getting close to Gaza, where the war between Israel and Hamas began its twenty-first month.


With the declared goals of providing humanitarian relief and lifting the Israeli siege on Palestinian territories, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's sailing vessel, the Madleen, sailed out of Italy on June 1.

In order to keep weapons from getting to Hamas, a deadly terrorist organization that is holding our captives and committing war crimes, Israel will not permit anyone to lift the naval blockade of Gaza, Katz stated.

He went on to say, "Israel will take action against any attempt to breach the blockade or aid terrorist organizations, whether by land, sea, or air."


In response, the coalition issued a statement on X, urging the governments of individuals on board to defend them and stating that it anticipated "interception and an attack from Israel at any moment."

The tweet also stated that jamming "briefly disrupted our location, but our tracker is functioning again" and that the Madleen is 160 nautical miles from Gaza.




Activists on board the ship have stated that they will continue traveling "until the last minute."

Rima Hassan, a member of the European parliament, told AFP from the boat, "We'll remain mobilized until the last minute — until Israel cuts the internet and networks." On board are twelve of us civilians. We don't have any weapons. Only humanitarian assistance is available.


Hassan expressed worry about the absence of a formal reaction from nations whose nationals are on board.

"No state has reacted. The message is that Israel can act without consequence and that we are not guaranteed any safety," she continued.

Hassan claimed in a post on X that the activists have "less than 24 hours" before Israeli officials arrest them.

She said, "I'm counting on you to continue the mobilization that has been so valuable to us throughout this journey when we are no longer able to communicate with you."


On the boat are citizens of Germany, France, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Yasemin Acar, a German human rights advocate who was also on board, stated, "We're not scared of them." "We are not retreating because of the message they have been sending that we cannot get closer."


According to Laurent Saint-Martin, the French Minister for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, France must provide "consular protection" for its citizens on board the Madleen.

He told a state television channel, "The six French citizens on this boat are entitled to consular protection."

He told a state television channel, "The six French citizens on this boat are entitled to consular protection."

According to an AFP count of official numbers, the October 7, 2023, Hamas strike on Israel was the catalyst for the battle and claimed 1,218 Israeli lives, primarily civilians.


The bulk of the 54,880 people killed in the Gaza war are civilians, according to the country's health ministry on Sunday. These numbers are regarded as trustworthy by the UN.