Greta Thunberg braces for Israeli raid on aid ship headed to Gaza

The activist claimed an imminent attack from Israeli forces on her Gaza aid ship after spotting an Italian coastguard drone; IDF confirms she won’t be allowed to dock.

Israel has warned that a ship carrying activists including Greta Thunberg that is en route to Gaza won’t be allowed to dock, saying it would “act accordingly” against the Medleen and its passengers.

The warning came as Thunberg, 22, appeared in a video with a fellow passenger who said a drone had been hovering above their ship.

“We just spotted a drone,” Thiago Avila said, explaining that the crew had put on lifejackets because they feared an assault. “If this is an attack we need your support.”

It later emerged that the drone belonged to the Hellenic coastguard.

The Madleen ship set sail from the Italian port of Catania on Sunday with 12 activists and a “symbolic” amount of aid for Gaza, which has been besieged by Israel since March after truce talks with Hamas unravelled.

“For this case … we are prepared,” said Brigadier General Effie Defrin, an Israeli army spokesman, in reference to Thunberg’s flotilla. “We have gained experience in recent years and we will act accordingly.”

Greta Thunberg with part of the crew of the ship Madleen, shortly before departure for Gaza, during the press conference in San Giovanni Li Cuti in Catania, Italy. Picture: Getty Images.

Defrin did not elaborate but may have been alluding to previous Israeli efforts to foil activists’ ships. In 2010 Israeli forces stormed a ship, the Mavi Marmara, carrying Turkish activists, killing nine; a tenth died later. In May organisers of another flotilla accused Israel of targeting one of their ships with drones. Israel has not commented on that case.

The activists on the Madleen, which is carrying supplies of milk and protein bars, have said they do not believe they will reach Gaza because Israel is likely to intercept them as they draw closer.

Organisers of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which is operating the boat, have described their voyage as “a non-violent, direct action to challenge Israel’s illegal siege and escalating war crimes”.

Pressure is mounting on Israel to relieve its three-month siege of Gaza. Britain has suspended trade talks and threatened sanctions if the new military operation does not end.

A US and Israeli-backed group that had been delivering limited aid to Gaza has suspended its operations after dozens of Palestinians were killed near a distribution centre. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which relies on armed contractors to deliver supplies, has faced several setbacks, including the resignations of two executives. “Our top priority remains ensuring the safety and dignity of civilians receiving aid,” a spokesman said.

The Times