• Source:JND
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Greta Thunberg News: Activists on board a flotilla of vessels sailing toward Gaza said late Wednesday that the Israeli navy had intercepted three of its boats as they approached the besieged Palestinian territory. Israeli authorities said the activists on board, including Greta Thunberg, were safe and being transferred to Israel.

What happened with Greta Thunberg?

The Global Sumud Flotilla, composed of nearly 50 boats and 500 activists, was carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Sirius, Alma and Adara boats were intercepted some 70 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza, according to organisers who shared live positions of the flotilla. The group, which includes Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, and several European lawmakers, said it remained undeterred in its mission to break the Israeli blockade and bring aid to Palestinians.

Greg Stoker, an American veteran aboard the Ohwayla, one of the boats in the flotilla, said around a dozen naval vessels with their transponders off had approached it. They are currently hailing our vessels, telling us to turn off our engines and await further instructions or our boats will be seized and we will face the consequences," he said in a shaky video posted on Instagram while wearing a red life jacket.

Israeli authorities used water cannons

Israeli authorities used water cannons against some of the boats, Stoker and other activists reported on social media. The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a video on X showing Thunberg sitting on a ship's deck being handed a water bottle and raincoat. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy," it said. 

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While still in international waters, it is an area where the Israeli navy has stopped other boats attempting to break its blockade in the past, and which the flotilla has been warned not to cross. After a tense encounter with two Israeli military vessels in the early hours of Wednesday, activists had resumed their journey and were broadcasting their voyage on livestreams from several of the boats. Some activists held up messages of solidarity with people in Gaza and chanted Free Palestine! on camera. Music could be heard playing in the background. As night fell, they detected via radar several unidentified vessels approaching them and put their life vests on ahead of the Israeli military's imminent arrival.

Why Israeli Navy intercepted Greta Thunberg's fleet

Some activists were able to broadcast the moment Israeli forces approached them live from their smartphones before tossing their devices into the water. The flotilla, which began its journey from the Spanish port of Barcelona a month ago, was to reach the shores of Gaza by Thursday morning, organisers had said earlier.

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Activists had acknowledged that scenario was unlikely and were expecting Israeli authorities to try to stop them at any moment, as they have done in past attempts. But this flotilla, with dozens of boats, was the largest attempt yet to break the Israeli maritime blockade of the Gaza strip that has been ongoing for 18 years. Israel and other governments had warned them to turn back. The Israeli navy had reached out to the flotilla earlier on Wednesday warning them that they were approaching an active combat zone and asking them to change course, the Israeli foreign ministry said, reiterating its offer to transfer the aid to Gaza through other channels.

(With inputs from agency)