June 2025 | BlogHear.com
Israel has started deporting 12 pro-Palestinian activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, following the seizure of their Gaza-bound aid boat, the Madleen, by Israeli naval forces in the Mediterranean on Monday.
The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that Thunberg departed Tel Aviv Tuesday morning, flying to France after agreeing to deportation. However, French officials reported that five of the six French activists aboard refused to sign their deportation orders and face judicial proceedings in Israel.
The Madleen was intercepted near Ashdod port as it attempted to deliver a small shipment of aid, including baby formula, food, and medicine, to Gaza. The activists sought to challenge Israel’s naval blockade by bringing attention to the humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Israel dismissed the flotilla as a “selfie yacht” operation, emphasizing that over 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel in the past two weeks. The Israeli foreign ministry stated that aid delivery does not require “Instagram selfies” and insisted the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas militants.
The activists onboard the Madleen represent several countries, including France, Sweden, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Turkey. The French group includes MEP Rima Hassan and journalist Omar Faiad.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed diplomatic engagement with detained nationals and expressed concern about the forced deportation proceedings for most of the French activists.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the mission, condemned the detention as unlawful and a violation of international law. It warned that those refusing deportation could be transferred to Ramle prison near Tel Aviv.
The Madleen set sail from Catania, Italy, on June 1 to highlight starvation and humanitarian needs in Gaza after Israel imposed a three-month land blockade following the October 2023 Hamas attack.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had earlier warned of forceful action against attempts to breach the naval blockade, which the Freedom Flotilla Coalition describes as illegal.
This incident recalls the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla, when Israeli forces killed 10 Turkish activists trying to break a previous blockade.
The conflict continues to have devastating humanitarian consequences. Since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent military campaign, over 54,000 people have died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
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