An aid boat carrying some of the biggest activists including Greta Thunberg is just 150 nautical miles from Gaza, campaigners have revealed.
The vessel, dubbed Madleen, aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian support to thousands of people. The boat, which is being operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily last Sunday, with the aim to reach Gaza's territorial waters by the end of this week.
Thunberg, who is amongst 12 activists aboard the ship, earlier called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. “We will try to break the siege and open humanitarian corridors to Gaza,” she said. In an update on the ship's whereabouts, human rights campaigner Yasemin Acar said they were close, but warned: "We could be cut out from the world any moment.”
She said on Telegram: "We believe that we will reach Gaza, and that’s why it’s so important that you all play your part in this to make sure that there is no interception. Contact your local politicians. Contact everyone you know, everyone who is in power, everyone that you voted into power. They have the power, first and foremost, to stop this genocide, then they have power to lift this illegal siege."
Turkish activist Huseyin Suayb, who is also on-board the vessel, stressed how aid trucks have been delayed at Gaza’s crossings for months. He said: "The people who need it are dying — burning, starving, and under bombing. Our goal is to end this blockade to allow the real aid waiting at the border to enter as soon as possible, to achieve a ceasefire, and to stop the bombings.”
He added: "We’re doing everything we can. I wish we could enter but we will likely be stopped. I am deeply sorry about this, but our entry is not what matters. Hopefully, this will serve as a means to break the blockade and stop the genocide.”
It comes as Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel will not allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said is aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms.
He said in a statement: “To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists – I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza.” Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies towards the Palestinians.
After a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade and the war end.
An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group’s vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship.
To follow the Madleen vessel on its journey, visit the official Freedom Flotilla tracker here.