Israel’s recent interception of high-profile activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen, including environmentalist Greta Thunberg, is still fresh in our minds. The U.S. The interception was on Monday in international waters. Israeli naval forces took the ship to the Israeli port of Ashdod after the attack. There, Thunberg and her fellow activists awaited imminent deportation from the country.
This incident represents a troubling low as Israel has started to allow limited humanitarian deliveries into Gaza after a two-month blockade. In a significant development, Israel is now collaborating with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to facilitate these deliveries. Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, has raised the value of the perpetual naval blockade. He argued that it is essential for preventing Palestinian militants from smuggling in arms. This blockade has existed for years, well before the recent increase of violence between Israel and Hamas.
Activists onboard the Madleen called for support. They enlisted the help of Adalah, an Israeli NGO that provides legal aid to the Arab minority in Israel. Despite their efforts, the activists were taken to a Tel Aviv airport for deportation shortly after their arrival at Ashdod. The Israeli foreign ministry stated, “The passengers of the ‘Selfie Yacht’ arrived at Ben Gurion airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries.” Furthermore, they warned that “Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority.”
Thunberg and her friends might be allowed to depart Tel Aviv late the night of their expulsion. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which organized their mission, has already suggested this could be true. “They may be permitted to fly out of Tel Aviv as early as tonight,” a representative from FFC confirmed.
The convoy with the Madleen will travel through Libya and Egypt. But passage permits from Cairo are still pending, adding complication and uncertainty to their journey. Activists recently embarked on a historic, nonviolent humanitarian aid delivery directly into a warzone — Gaza. The conditions are catastrophic, and since the end of May, reports from Gaza’s civil defense agency say that dozens have been killed at GHF distribution centers.
In May, a different ship from the Freedom Flotilla, called Conscience, sustained severe damage in international waters off Malta. This new incident illustrates the continuing problems these vessels are causing. This incident further highlights the ongoing challenges faced by those attempting to deliver aid to Gaza amid stringent Israeli naval operations.