Greta Thunberg's Gaza flotilla 'kidnapped' by Israeli forces as activist issues update
Greta Thunberg's Gaza flotilla has reportedly been intercepted by Israeli forces
In a tense and rapidly unfolding sequence of events, Israeli speedboats, and drones have been spotted circling a vessel carrying environmental activist Greta Thunberg as it attempts to break through a blockade and deliver aid to Gaza. Initially, it was reported that several Israeli vessels had surrounded the ship, prompting the crew to raise the alarm.
However, the Freedom flotilla later stated that it was a false alarm after the boats altered their course and retreated.
According to Thiago Avila, a member of the crew, multiple vessels approached the flotilla simultaneously, encircled it, and then withdrew. As the situation continues to unfold with the ships pressing on toward Gaza, international attention remains riveted on the flotilla's mission and the potential for interception by Israeli forces.
Thunberg took to X to claim that her crew had been "intercepted and kidnapped" by "Israeli occupation forces" and appealed to her supporters to pressure Israel into releasing the flotilla. Speaking from on board, Thiago Avila shared his observations, stating, "It can be IOF vessels, it can be a strategy to come from behind us with their lights off, we're not sure."
He comforted supporters by stating that all crew members are trained to handle emergencies, including getting into position and donning life jackets - a precaution that triggered the alarm.
Yasemin Acar, another member of the flotilla, confirmed that the crew is now "very close to Gaza", emphasizing that everyone on board remains safe with no interception occurring so far.
"The reason we sounded the alarm is because two vessels... came 200 meters close to our vessel, this has never happened before in the past eight days," she clarified.
"This is why we sounded the alarm. There are many lights around us and two vessels I'm looking at right now, the other two have left, but these two, one of them has a platform and they stopped their engine and they're not moving." She further stated: "We have reason to believe this is psychological warfare and they have planned this."
The situation at sea continues to be extremely tense, with the Freedom flotilla persisting in its controversial mission toward Gaza amid escalating concerns of a potential interception.
The Israel Foreign Ministry posted an update from its X account predicting that the flotilla's crew would be returned to their home countries: " The "selfie yacht" of the "celebrities" is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries. "There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip - they do not involve Instagram selfies."
Initial reports suggest that a flotilla has been surrounded by five vessels, leaving the captain to instruct everyone onboard to stay calm, seated, and prepared with passports and lifejackets.
UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, aboard the flotilla, is providing live updates via social media platform X. "I hear them speaking with Israeli soldiers as I type... telling [them] they are carrying humanitarian aid and going in peace. For the time being they are just circled. I am with them, recording everything."
The Jerusalem Post disclosed that Israel's elite naval unit, Shayetet 13, is actively training to potentially board the ship should it breach the blockade to enter Gaza.
According to an insider source quoted by Maariv: "It's a small and low-profile sailboat with a small auxiliary engine, so it sails slowly. We'll have no problem boarding it once it enters Israeli waters."
Despite the looming threat of interception, members of the Freedom flotilla stand firm, resolute not to reverse their course, as they aim to reach Gaza—even with Israel asserting that Greta Thunberg will never set foot in the conflict-stricken area. The tension escalates amid this ongoing standoff at sea.
