Israel’s government told the military to stop a charity aid boat carrying activists including Greta Thunberg from reaching the Gaza Strip.
Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed his nation wouldn’t allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms.
He said in a statement on Sunday: “To the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists - I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza.”
Climate campaigner Thunberg is among 12 aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
The British-flagged yacht departed Sicily last week on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis 20 months into the Israel-Hamas war.
It comes as six Palestinians were killed and several others wounded by Israeli gunfire in the latest deadly incident close to an aid distribution centre in southern Gaza.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency says people had gathered to collect food supplies on Saturday morning when the shooting started. Reports quoting an eyewitness said the Israelis opened fire when people tried to advance towards the site.
The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at suspects who approached them in a threatening manner.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured trying to get to the distribution centre this week.
Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, who is on board Thunberg’s boat, posted a video on social media saying someone appeared to be jamming their tracking and communication devices about 160 nautical miles from Gaza.
Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian descent, is among the others.
She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.
Thunberg said she joined the Madleen crew to “challenge Israel’s illegal siege and escalating war crimes” in Gaza and highlight the urgent need for humanitarian aid. She has rejected previous Israeli accusations of anti-Semitism.
It’s the 6th day of our journey onboard the Madleen to #breakthesiege of Gaza and create a people’s humanitarian sea corridor! The Freedom Flotilla Coalition will never stop due to the Zionists threats. We know we have billions of people along with the 12 of us on this boat! pic.twitter.com/FfIDDtVbX7
— Thiago Ávila | Gaza Freedom Flotilla (@thiagoavilabr) June 6, 2025
Israel went to war with Hamas in October 2023 after the Islamist militants launched a murderous surprise attack on southern Israel, killing more 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to the enclave.
More than 54,000 Palestinians have died during the ongoing Israeli assault, according to Gaza health authorities, with much of the territory reduced to rubble. The United Nations has warned that most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is at risk of famine.
Katz said the blockade was essential to Israel’s national security as it seeks to eliminate Hamas.
“The State of Israel will not allow anyone to break the naval blockade on Gaza, whose primary purpose is to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas,” he said.
