CNN
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Israel vowed on Sunday to stop Greta Samberg and other activists from reaching Gaza.
As of Sunday night, British civilian ships were slowly approaching the coast of Gaza, north of Egypt in the Mediterranean. “Madleen” is part of the Freedom Frotira Union, an organization that opposed Israel’s blockade of Gaza and tried to break the siege with boats.
“We know it’s a very dangerous mission and know that previous experiences with fleets like this have led to cases of attack, violence and even death,” Samberg told CNN on Saturday.
“But of course, none of these risks are as high as the risks Palestinians face every day just trying to survive.”
Israeli Defense Minister Katz repeatedly said that the Madleen, run by the Free Fleet Union, would not reach the enclave under siege.
“I have instructed the IDF to prevent the ‘Madleen’ fleet from reaching Gaza,” Katz said in a statement, referring to the ship’s name.
Katz warned the ship, “You won’t get to Gaza, so you’d better go back.”
Thunberg and The Madleen are hoping to arrive in Gaza the next day, organizer Yasemin Acar told CNN on Saturday.
“We’re still heading for Gaza. We’re not going back. We hope to enter Gaza within two days,” Acar says.
The coalition campaign that ended Israel’s Gaza blockade and attempted to reach enclaves several times in the past
After an 11-week lockdown that prevented humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, Israel has once again begun to allow trickle out of aid.
However, only a portion of aid entered the enclave before the war, with humanitarian organisations warning of the worsening humanitarian crisis and the increased risk of widespread hunger.
Francesca Albanese, the special rapporteur of the United Nations’ special Palestinian territory, said on social media that the fleet has more than food.
“It’s not just aid, it’s the human race they carry. For all of us,” she said.
The crew, who announced the location of the ship via an online tracker, began preparing for possible intercepts by Israeli forces.
Joining the crew are Lima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, and Liam Cunningham, the actor of Game of Thrones.
“From a legal and moral perspective, Israel has no right to intercept the ship,” the group said in a statement.
“The people of Gaza, facing siege, hunger and threat of annihilation, have a legal right to decide who enters their territory.”
Last month, another vessel from the Freedom Flotira Union confirmed that organizers said it was an Israeli drone attack along Malta in international waters. The group did not provide evidence that the drone was Israeli, but Israeli forces declined to comment on the alleged attack.
The ship, “conscience” was heading towards Malta. There, a large number of activists were being held for the boards, but they had not entered the port, before departing for Gaza, more than 1,000 miles away, the group said.
The coalition told CNN that Thunberg was among those expected to board a Maltese vessel.
