Israel vows to stop Greta Thunberg's aid boat reaching Gaza by 'any measures necessary'
8 June 2025, 13:37 | Updated: 9 June 2025, 10:30
Israel’s defence minister has said he will stop an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg to Gaza by “any means necessary” as fears grow the vessel could be attacked.
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Israel Katz took to Twitter on Sunday to confirm he has instructed the Israeli Defence Force to “take whatever measures necessary” to stop the Madleen reaching the Gaza Strip.
The sailing boat - led by the 22-year-old climate campaigner and operated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition - departed from the Sicilian port of Catania in southern Italy last week.
It will try to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip in an effort to bring in some aid and raise "international awareness" of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and open up an aid corridor to the region, the activists said at a press conference.
It comes amid the backdrop of an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with at least 53,000 people killed in Israeli attacks, and hundreds of thousands more at risk of starvation, according to the United Nations.
Taking to X on Sunday, Katz wrote: “I have instructed the IDF to act to prevent the "Madleen" hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza - and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end.
“To the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propaganda spokespeople, I say clearly: ‘You should turn back - because you will not reach Gaza.’
“Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organizations – at sea, in the air, and on land.”
הנחיתי את צה"ל לפעול כדי שמשט השנאה "מדלין" לא יגיע לחופי עזה - ולנקוט בכל אמצעי שיידרש לשם כך.
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) June 8, 2025
לגרטה האנטישמית ולחבריה דוברי תעמולת חמאס אני אומר בצורה ברורה: כדאי שתעשו אחורה פנה - כי לעזה לא תגיעו.
ישראל תפעל נגד כל ניסיון לשבור את הסגר או לסייע לארגוני טרור – בים, באוויר… pic.twitter.com/5gwCLqOYLH
In an impassioned speech ahead of her departure, Ms Thunberg said: "We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying.
"Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it's not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide."
Israel denies allegations of Genocide, a claim which has been judged "plausible" by the International Criminal Court.
In mid-May, Israel slightly eased its blockade of Gaza after nearly three months, allowing a limited amount of humanitarian aid into the territory.
Experts have warned that Gaza is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in.
UN agencies and major aid groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza's roughly two million Palestinians.
Among those joining the crew of the ship are Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent.
She has been barred from entering Israel due to her active opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza.
