Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg says the story the world needs to focus on was Israel’s “siege and oppression” of Gaza rather than her voyage with a humanitarian group to deliver aid to the besieged Palestinian region Strip.
Thunberg made an appeal in a video shared by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition on social media, from a boat sailing to Gaza with a group of people aiming to deliver aid to people in the blockaded Palestinian territory.
“Keep your eyes on Gaza,” pleaded Swedish activist Greta.
“This story is not at all about us, who are on board,” Thunberg added. “We are only a part of a much broader, bigger, global movement for Palestinian liberation and we are here because our governments are failing to step up.”
Widely known for her campaign to end man-made climate change, the Swedish-born activist has taken part in demonstrations of students held across European cities in support of Palestinians over the past few months.
“If you, as a climate activist, don’t also fight for a free Palestine and an end to colonialism and oppression all over the world, then you should not be able to call yourself a climate activist,” the founder of ‘Fridays for Future’ movement said at a Milan demonstration in October.
“Silence is complicity, you cannot be neutral in a genocide,” she added.
She has increasingly taken up the Palestinian cause and said such protests “should be everywhere.”
Israel plans to seize the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, arrest activists
Hebrew media reports said that Tel Aviv has plans to prevent the Gaza Freedom Flotilla from reaching the besieged strip. The regime forces may even seize the boat and detain those on board.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), citing sources, estimated that the boat will arrive at the coast of Gaza in around four days.
KAN said Israel initially considered allowing the Flotilla to dock, but ultimately decided against it so as not to create a precedent and allow for other attempts to break its blockade on Gaza.
Israeli war minister Israel Katz is expected to hold a meeting on 5 June to discuss a final decision on how to deal with the ship and its passengers.
The humanitarian vessel is carrying at least a dozen pro-Palestinian activists, including renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg and Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham, as well as actress Susan Sarandon.
They have all been outspoken on Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and its brutal blockade of the Strip.
Walla news, citing sources, said that Israel plans to deploy forces in the area and relay a message warning the activists not to enter.
“The naval commando unit ‘Shayetet 13’ and the missile boat units are preparing for the possibility of carrying out an operation to seize the ship and arrest the participants,” the sources said.
The Madleen civilian boat, boarded by the activists and carrying aid for Gaza, departed from Catania, Sicily, on Sunday.
The small vessel is expected to reach the strip by 8 June, where activists will attempt to breach the Israeli-enforced blockade of the besieged strip.
Drones hovering over Gaza aid vessel
According to a video statement made by one of the activists on board, an Israeli drone has been hovering above the vessel.
Yasemin Acar, a German human rights activist aboard the ship, stated that they have been subjected to “psychological warfare” by drones made in Israel and operated by Greek authorities.”
This comes as Israel’s Western allies face the possibility of charges for complicity in Israeli crimes.
Israel has a long history of bombing aid ships attempting to break the siege of Gaza.
An Israeli drone bombed a Freedom Flotilla aid vessel that was en route to Gaza early on May 2, blowing a hole through the ship, causing a fire, and putting it at risk of sinking.
In 2010, Israeli commandos raided a group of Freedom Flotilla ships with helicopters as they were carrying aid and headed towards Gaza to break the siege. The commandos killed nine activists and injured 30 others of several nationalities.
