By Jeffrey Stein
Catania, Italy – Climate activist Greta Thunberg and eleven other activists embarked on a journey to Gaza on Sunday aboard the “Madleen,” a sailing vessel operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The group aims to “break Israel’s siege” of the devastated territory and deliver aid to its residents amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The ship departed from the Sicilian port of Catania, with organizers hoping to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip within seven days, barring any intervention. Also, among the passengers are “Game of Thrones” star Liam Cunningham and French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, who has been barred from entering Israel due to her vocal opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza.
At a press conference before their departure, the activists stressed the importance of raising “international awareness” regarding the dire situation in Gaza. Thunberg, visibly emotional, stated, “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.”
This is not Thunberg’s first attempt to reach Gaza. She was scheduled to join a previous Freedom Flotilla mission in early May, which was thwarted after one of the group’s vessels, the “Conscience,” was reportedly attacked by drones while in international waters off the coast of Malta. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition blamed Israel for the attack, which caused damage to the ship.
The current mission comes as aid organizations warn of a renewed risk of famine in Gaza, despite a slight easing of the blockade by Israel in mid-May. UN agencies and major aid groups cite continuing Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting as major obstacles to delivering adequate aid to Gaza’s approximately 2 million Palestinian residents.
Activist Thiago Avila emphasized that this voyage is part of a broader strategy to alleviate the suffering in Gaza. “We are breaking the siege of Gaza by sea, but that’s part of a broader strategy of mobilizations that will also attempt to break the siege by land,” Avila explained.
He highlighted the upcoming Global March to Gaza, an international initiative inviting doctors, lawyers, and media personnel to travel from Egypt to the Rafah crossing in mid-June. The march aims to stage a protest demanding an end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and the reopening of the border.
The Freedom Flotilla’s mission comes amid growing international scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza, with some critics accusing the country of genocidal acts, allegations that Israel vehemently denies. Israel maintains that its military operations are solely directed at Hamas militants and not at Gaza’s civilian population.
