A ship piloted by pro-Palestinian activists that was attempting to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip is now “safely making” its way to Israel, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced.
In a statement on X, the foreign ministry referred to the Madleen, the ship operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, as a “selfie yacht” and its passengers, which include activist Greta Thunberg and a minister of the European Parliament, as “celebrities” staging a “media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity.”
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The statement noted that the passengers would be expected to return to their home countries after the ship docks in Israel. It also said the “tiny” amount of aid the activists were attempting to deliver to Gaza would be transferred “through real humanitarian channels.”
“There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies,” the foreign ministry added.
Later footage shows IDF soldiers handing out food and water to the activists, all of whom are “safe and unharmed,” the foreign ministry said.
Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz had instructed the Israel Defense Forces this weekend to “take any means necessary” to stop the ship from reaching Gaza.
ISRAEL SAYS IT WILL STOP GRETA THUNBERG AID SHIP FROM BREAKING GAZA NAVAL BLOCKADE
This is a developing story.