Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz instructed the military to stop a boat that was carrying activists, including Greta Thulberg of Sweden, who were planning to break an Israeli blockade to reach Gaza.

The British-flagged Madleen, operated by the pro Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, set sail from Sicily, on 6 June. It is now off the coast of Egypt, slowly heading towards Gaza Strip which is under siege by Israel.

Katz stated in a press release that he had instructed the IDF not to allow the Madleen... to reach Gaza.

"To the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-propaganda-spouting friends, I say clearly: You'd better turn back, because you will not reach Gaza."

Thunberg, a climate activist, said that she joined the Madleen crew in order to "challenge Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza and escalated war crimes", and highlight the urgent necessity for humanitarian aid. She has denied previous Israeli accusations that she is antisemitic.

Israel declared war on Hamas in 2023, after Islamist militants launched an attack against southern Israel that killed more than 1,200 people, and took 251 hostages to the enclave.

Gaza's health authorities report that more than 54,000 Palestinians are dead, and that much of the Palestinian land is in ruins. U.N. warned that most Gaza's population of 2.3 million is at risk of starvation.

Katz stated that the blockade is essential for Israel's national safety as it seeks out Hamas.

He said, "Israel will not allow anyone else to break the blockade of the Gaza naval area. Its primary goal is to stop the transfer of arms to Hamas."

FFC said that the Madleen is carrying rice and infant formula as a symbol of its aid.

Hay Sha Wiya, FFC's press officer, said that the boat is currently about 160 nautical miles away (296 km) of Gaza. She said, "We're preparing for possible interception."

There are also 11 crew members on board, including Rima Hasselan, a French Member of the European Parliament.

Israeli media reported that the military planned to intercept the yacht, before it reached Gaza, and escort her to Ashdod in Israel. The crew will then be deported.

Israeli commandos murdered 10 people in 2010 when they boarded the Mavi Marmara - a Turkish vessel that was leading a small Gaza flotilla. (Reporting and editing by Alexandra Hudson, Helen Popper and Alexandra Hudson; Reporting by Crispian B. Balmer and Nayera A. Abdallah)

(source: Reuters)