A Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists has been diverted to Israel, the country’s foreign ministry has said.
In a post on X, it said the British-flagged yacht Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), “is safely making its way to the shores of Israel”.
“The passengers are expected to return to their home countries,” Israel‘s foreign ministry said, adding that the humanitarian aid aboard the ship would be transferred to Gaza through established channels.
The ministry later said all the passengers were safe and unharmed, sharing footage of the activists being handed sandwiches and water. Ms Thunberg was “safe and in good spirits” while en route to Israel, it added.
The FFC claimed the passengers on the yacht had been “kidnapped by Israeli forces” and released pre-recorded messages from them after previously saying that the “Israeli army had boarded” the vessel.
Climate campaigner Ms Thunberg, 22, was one of a dozen activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily on 1 May on a mission aiming to break Israel’s sea blockade.
The activists had planned to reach Gaza‘s territorial waters as early as Sunday to deliver humanitarian aid, but their plan was thwarted by Israel.
IDF told to ‘take whatever measures necessary’ to stop Greta Thunberg aid boat from reaching Gaza
Greta Thunberg detained by police in the Netherlands
Greta Thunberg cleared of public order offence after judge throws out charge
Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, who is of Palestinian descent, is also on the boat.
She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israel’s policies towards Palestinians.
Ms Hassan wrote on X as the FFC’s yacht was allegedly surrounded by other vessels: “The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2am.”
The diversion of the Madleen comes after Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said that he had instructed the Israeli Defence Forces to prevent the vessel from reaching the shore and to “take whatever measures necessary”.
Addressing Ms Thunberg and the other activists on Sunday, he said: “You should turn back – because you will not reach Gaza.”
He wrote on X: “I have instructed the IDF to act so that the ‘Madeleine’ hate flotilla does not reach the shores of Gaza – and to take any means 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 organisations – at sea, in the air and on land.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month after a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas and preventing the group from importing arms.
But humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless there is an end to the blockade and the 20-month war, which was ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.
Read more from Sky News:
Russian troops ‘reach new Ukrainian region’
Soldier arrested on suspicion of raping woman
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group’s vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta.
The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship.
