Latest news with #GazaFreedomFlotilla
Int'l Business Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Trump dismisses Greta Thunberg's kidnapping claim after Gaza aid vessel interception
Donald Trump's reaction to a recent incident involving Greta Thunberg has sparked questions online about his stance on the activist's claims. While Thunberg states she was 'kidnapped' by Israeli forces, Trump dismissed the idea as unlikely and unnecessary - reflecting scepticism about her account. Earlier this month, Greta Thunberg climbed aboard the aid vessel Madleen, part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, aiming to deliver supplies to Gaza. The ship, which has drawn global attention since it set off from Italy, was around 185 km away from its destination when it was intercepted early in the morning by Israeli navy units near Ashdod. Israeli officials said they boarded the vessel after repeated warnings to turn back, citing the long-standing naval blockade of Gaza. At roughly 100 nautical miles from their destination, upon interception the ship was still in international waters. Thunberg and other activists, including European Parliament member Rima Hassan, stated they were 'kidnapped' during the interception. In a prerecorded video, Thunberg stated she had been taken by Israeli forces while in international waters. Her supporters accused Israel of violating international law by confiscating aid supplies such as food, baby formula, and medical kits. Thunberg's comments added fuel to the ongoing controversy over Israel's actions in Gaza. Trump's Response: Dismissing the Kidnapping Claim When asked if he discussed Thunberg's situation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump responded dismissively. He called Thunberg 'a strange person' and 'an angry person,' suggesting her behaviour was unbalanced. He then said, 'I think she has to go to an anger management class,' implying that, in his opinion, her emotional state was questionable. The reporter pressed further, asking Trump if he believed Thunberg had been kidnapped. Trump shook his head and said, 'I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta.' This blunt remark indicates that Trump considers her kidnapping claim unlikely. He also implied that Israel's current difficulties are sufficient without adding accusations of kidnapping a young activist. Context and Broader Implications Freedom Flotilla (Via Greta Thunberg Instagram) Israeli authorities insisted that everyone aboard the vessel was unharmed after the interception. From their accounts, they claim that they offered the activists food and water and assured their safe return to their home countries. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the passengers had been detained temporarily and would be repatriated. The flotilla organisers argued that their mission was peaceful and aimed at raising awareness of Gaza's humanitarian crisis, which has worsened dramatically since October. Al Jazeera reports that over 54,000 Palestinians have died and over 125,000 have been wounded in the conflict since then, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. What Do the Public and Officials Say? The Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed the kidnapping claim, stating that all aboard the boat were fine and that the operation was lawful. Meanwhile, Thunberg posted a video on Instagram reiterating her stance that the world cannot remain silent while she described the situation as a 'livestream genocide'. Her supporters see her as a symbol of global solidarity, while critics question her accounts and motives. Originally published on IBTimes UK
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Violation of int'l law': Hamas, foreign gov'ts attack Israel over interception of Gaza flotilla
The IDF boarded the 'Madleen' early on Monday, taking the crew and the ship to the Port of Ashdod, where they would be sent back to their respective countries. Varying reactions were issued on Monday after the IDF intercepted the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, Madleen, early in the morning. Foreign ministries with citizens on board the ship confirmed that they have requested consular access. The IDF boarded the Madleen at around 3 a.m., and took the crew and the ship to the Port of Ashdod, where they would be sent back to their respective countries, with Defense Minister Israel Katz instructing that the passengers view footage from Hamas's October 7 attacks. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is "urgently working to locate the 11 international volunteers, and one journalist abducted from the civilian aid ship Madleen," the group's press officer said in a statement on Monday. "According to the Israeli Immigration Authority, they are not in its custody. [Adalah] has repeatedly contacted Israeli military officials but has yet to receive any response to its inquiries or letters since the early hours of the morning," the statement said. Hamas condemned the interception in a statement posted to the group's Telegram. "Intercepting the Madleen at sea and preventing it from delivering symbolic aid to our people, who are facing a war of genocide, constitutes state terrorism, a blatant violation of international law, and an assault on civilian volunteers motivated by humanitarian concerns," the terror group said. Spain summoned the head of the Israeli embassy, Dan Porez, in Madrid, for a reprimand on Monday afternoon, in response to the IDF's actions. Israel does not have an ambassador in Spain currently, due to its anti-Israel policy. French President Emmanuel Macron asked for the six French citizens aboard the Madleen to be released "as soon as possible," according to Israeli media. According to reports, France requested consular access to the six citizens aboard the Madleen as soon as the IDF boarded the vessel, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Monday, adding that France had forewarned each of the activists of the risks surrounding their trip. "As soon as the vessel was stopped, we asked to allow consular protection for them on our behalf. Our consulate asked to visit them as soon as they arrived in Israeli territory, in order to verify that their condition is normal and to facilitate their rapid return to France." "France calls on the Israeli government to allow immediate, widespread and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to Gaza," Barrot added. The German Ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, confirmed that the embassy is in contact with Israeli authorities regarding a German citizen aboard the boat, who has been offered consular assistance. Turkey on Monday condemned the interception, which it said was carrying Turkish citizens as well as activist Greta Thunberg among its 12-strong crew, calling the move a "clear violation of international law." The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the intervention threatened maritime security and "once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state."
The National
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
'Good case' Israel breached international law with Madleen seizure
On Monday, Israel imprisoned 12 crew members on board the vessel that was sailing along the Egyptian coast and heading towards Gaza to deliver aid. It is understood that the Madleen was captured in international waters some 200 kilometres (120 miles) from Gaza. Heidi Matthews, a professor specialising in international criminal law at York University in Toronto, Canada, said that as the naval blockade on Gaza is 'unlawful', there are several points of law that the Israeli forces breached by capturing the Madleen. READ MORE: LIVE: Gaza Freedom Flotilla, Madleen tracker and updates Matthews explained that there are two specific conditions which allow countries to enforce a blockade in international waters. First, if a vessel is making an 'effective contribution to opposing forces', for example, if it had weapons on board. Second, if it was posing an 'imminent and overwhelming threat' to Israel, that would allow them to 'invoke self defence on the high seas'. Matthews explained: 'Obviously, neither of these conditions have been met in these circumstances. 'So because of that, intercepting the vessel and taking custody of the crew members is not the enforcement of a lawful blockade, as Israel is claiming.' The Madleen, which carried campaigner Greta Thunberg and French member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, was sailing under the UK red ensign, meaning it was under UK jurisdiction while in international waters. 'I think there's a good case that these actions, specifically the detention of crew members could constitute crimes against humanity, specifically unlawful confinement and unlawful appropriation of property, as well as an attack against civilians as such,' Matthews (below) added. (Image: Heidi Matthews) 'Others have made the case that could constitute a war crime too.' Mitchell pointed out that Israel's response to the capture of the vessel, such as deeming it a 'selfie yacht' and releasing pictures of Thunberg being handed a sandwich, were intended to undermine the mission as a 'silly thing'. However, she added that it was clearly being 'treated as though it were a threat' by the deployment of Israeli forces. Matthews added: 'Therefore arguably bringing in war crimes and in terms of crimes against humanity here like the way that would work, this is a little technical, but because the UK is a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and Israel is currently conducting a widespread or systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza, intercepting this vessel on the high seas would trigger the territorial jurisdiction of the United Kingdom, and again, a couple of those crimes against humanity that I mentioned.' She added that the UK Government should be thinking about the incident 'in terms of international criminal law and the law of war' and that it should 'be acting accordingly'. The National have repeatedly pushed the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for a response following the crew being detained on Monday. READ MORE: Labour Government 'must protect' UK-flagged Madleen aid ship After refusing to respond for hours, they directed our journalists to a BBC live blog with comments from the Prime Minister's spokesperson who said they wanted Israel to resolve the situation 'safely with restraint, in line with international humanitarian law'. Earlier, Israel was preparing to hold the 12 unlawfully detained activists in separate cells in Givon Prison in Ramla, according to local media. Israel Katz, Israel's defence minister, said that he had instructed the IDF to show the crew 'video of the horrors of the October 7 massacre when they arrive at the port of Ashdod'. Matthews said the UK should consider taking a case to the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, she noted the attack the Israeli navy committed in 2010 on the Mavi Marmara, a flagship of a flotilla crewed by pro-Palestinian activists who were attempting to deliver 10,000 tonnes of aid to Gaza. (Image: PA) Israeli forces attacked the boat, which like the Madleen (above) was trying to breach the blockade on Gaza, leading to the death of nine people, and leaving a further 50 injured. The UN Human Rights Council found that Israel's military had broken international laws by taking 'disproportionate action'. Prosecutors at the ICC declined to open an investigation into the alleged war crimes that took place during the attack. Matthews said it was 'unfortunate' the case didn't proceed as it may have 'acted as a deterrent'. READ MORE: LBC spark fury with pro-Israel report on seizure of Madleen Gaza ship 'The Madleen itself has obviously captured global attention, right? And so the purpose was always to do that,' she explained. 'Given the amount of media attention, I wasn't expecting them to actually sink the ship. "Instead, they're trying to create this alternative narrative where a military intersection is actually not an attack, but some kind of rescue mission.' She added: 'The battle is really over framing.'
Al Bawaba
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Israel detains activists on Madleen ship, to make them watch Oct. 7 footage
Published June 9th, 2025 - 05:28 GMT ALABWABA - The Israeli army had boarded the Madleen ship, known as the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, according to a Telegram post shared by the ship's operators. Also Read Israel prepares military intercept as Gaza aid ship 'Madleen' According to the Telegram post, the Israeli soldiers entered the Madleen ship at on early Monday morning, at around 3 a.m. local time, and all activists on the ship, including Greta Thunberg, were arrested. The Israeli military's naval unit, Shayetet 13, is taking the ship to the Port of Ashdod. — Taleb 𓂆 baslieb✌️ (@taleb_b72) June 9, 2025 The Defense Ministry said that the Madleen flotilla, referring to it as the "selfie yacht," had been redirected to Israeli shores and that all passengers will be sent to their home countries. In a post on X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote: "All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over." Furthermore, Defense Minister Israel Katz had also instructed the army to show activists on board the ship to see footage from Hamas's October 7 attacks. "It is appropriate that antisemitic Greta and her fellow 'Hamas supporters' see exactly who this 'terrorist organization' they came to support and whom they are working for is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself," he said. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Al Jazeera
09-06-2025
- Al Jazeera
Israeli forces intercept the Madleen aid ship headed to Gaza
NewsFeed Israeli forces intercept the Madleen aid ship headed to Gaza Video from Al Jazeera Mubasher showed the crew of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition's Madleen in life jackets with their hands raised as the ship was about to be raided by Israeli forces. Communications with the vessel were cut shortly after.
