JERUSALEM, Jun 10 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Barbaric Israeli regime, said yesterday, it diverted the Madleen, a boat headed for the war-torn Gaza Strip, after intercepting it at sea.
The yacht, carrying humanitarian aid and 12 international activists, including Swedish climate campaigner, Greta Thunberg, was attempting to reach the blockaded Palestinian enclave.
The inhuman Israeli Foreign Ministry said, on the social media platform X that, the Zionist navy had “instructed the boat to change its course, due to its approach towards a ‘restricted area’.” It released video footage showing the activists were being taken to Israel.
The international Freedom Flotilla Coalition said, on its Telegram channel that, the Barbaric Israeli forces boarded the aid vessel. It accused the Zionist Israeli regime of violating international law, by preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“The Madleen is currently under assault in international waters,” it said. “Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white irritant substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio.”
The group later reported that, the inhumane Zionist army had boarded the Madleen and that contact with the vessel was lost. It said, the volunteers on board were “kidnapped by Israeli forces.”
The Zionist Defence Minister, Israel Katz, praised the military for the “swift and safe takeover of the Madleen flotilla, to prevent them from breaching the blockade and reaching the shores of Gaza.”
The Barbaric Israeli officials said on Sunday that, the vessel would be intercepted and the activists deported. It was not immediately clear when they would be released.
Organisers of the mission said, the boat was carrying food and medical supplies.
The current flotilla came, about a month after another coalition ship, the Conscience, was reportedly damaged in a drone attack in international waters near Malta.
The Israeli regime imposed a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, when the Islamist group Hamas took control of the territory. The blockade was significantly tightened after Oct, 2023.
The current round of conflict between Israel and Hamas, which, now, in its 21st month, has caused a severe humanitarian crisis. The death toll in Gaza passes 54,800, as the inhuman Israeli regime continues the genocidal war on Palestinians, even during the Eid al-Adha month.
United Nations agencies and humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned of imminent famine in the densely populated territory of 2.3 million people. The UN says the entire population is facing life-threatening food insecurity.– NNN-XINHUA
