Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg, ministry says
'The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2am,' Hassan posted on X.
A photograph showed the crew seated on the boat, all wearing life jackets, with their hands in the air.
The yacht is carrying a small shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula. The foreign ministry said it would be taken to Gaza.
'The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels,' it wrote.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz ordered the military on Sunday to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.
The blockade has remained in place through many conflicts, including the current war, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally.
Gaza's health ministry said more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign. The UN has warned most of Gaza's more than 2-million residents are facing famine.
The Israeli government said the blockade is essential to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.
The UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has supported the FFC operation and on Sunday urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade.
She wrote on X: 'Madleen's journey may have ended, but the mission isn't over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid and solidarity to Gaza.'
Reuters
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