Gaza aid vessel vows to continue until final moment: Activists
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Activists aboard the Gaza-bound Madleen, including Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, vow to continue their humanitarian mission despite "Israel's" threats.
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Activist Greta Thunberg, center, waits to board the Madleen boat, before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025 (AP)
Campaigners said on Sunday that Madleen, the humanitarian boat bound for Gaza, which is carrying 12 activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, would continue its journey "until the last minute" after "Israel" ordered its military to block the vessel.
"We'll stay mobilised until the last minute, until Israel cuts the internet and networks," EU Parliament member Rima Hassan told AFP from the boat, emphasizing that "There are twelve of us civilians on board. We are not armed. There is only humanitarian aid."
The boat includes activists from Germany, France, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Earlier in the day, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to prevent the boat from reaching the Palestinian territory, stating in an official announcement from his office, "I say clearly: turn back because you will not reach Gaza."
The coalition issued a statement on X expressing their anticipation of an imminent "interception and an attack from Israel at any moment" while urging the governments of the activists on board to ensure their protection.
German human rights activist Yasemin Acar, who is on the boat, stated that they were not intimidated by the warnings and emphasized that the repeated messages demanding they stay away would not deter them from continuing their mission.
"No state has responded. The message being sent is that Israel is being allowed to act with impunity, without any guarantee of protection for us," she emphasized.
