The Swedish activist was escorted off the flotilla of boats by Israeli tactical response troops
Israel’s armed forces boarded and intercepted a flotilla of ships it says has entered waters it controls on Wednesday, including one carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
It is not the first time the 22-year-old has tried to get past the Israeli Defence Force. Here is what you need to know about the situation, and where things stand now.
WHY ARE THE MILITARY COMING ABOARD THE FLOTILLA?
According to The Times, the flotilla was trying to bust Israel’s blockade of Gaza and get aid to the Palestinian territory.
Spokespeople for the flotilla say that what Israel did was a “war crime”.
“Around 8.30 pm Gaza time (1830 UK time), several vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including the Alma, Sirius and Adara, were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli occupation forces in international waters,” they said.
The Israeli foreign ministry posted on X that “several vessels of the … flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port”.
WHAT IS GRETA THUNBERG”S ROLE ON BOARD?
Israel’s foreign ministry posted footage of Thunberg retrieving her belongings following the stopping of the flotilla.
By having her on board, organisers guarantee huge media attention for their cause.
In June, another boat she was on which was travelling towards Gaza was intercepted by the IDF, and Thunberg was removed from the boat and from Israel.
The activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the journey in June, said it was seeking to defy the Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza – and that the crew had been “kidnapped by Israeli forces”.
HOW DID THE CONFRONTATION COME ABOUT?
Israel’s foreign ministry told The Times that the Israeli navy had informed the flotilla it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade.
The flotilla had earlier been warned to reroute to the port of Ashdod, north of Gaza.
Israeli officials said any aid could be transferred “through safe channels” to Gaza.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION?
Italy’s foreign minister said that he has been promised no harm would come to the activists.
“We are talking about it … there (will) be no violent actions on the part of the Tel Aviv armed forces, and this has been assured to me,” Antonio Tajani told Italian TV broadcaster Rai.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the country was expelling all Israeli diplomats after the reported detention of two Colombian activists on board the flotilla.
And Turkey accused Israel of committing an “act of terrorism” by intercepting the flotilla.
