Israeli forces intercepted and detained a boat carrying pro-Hamas activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, as it attempted to break the Gaza blockade, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced Monday morning. The vessel, Madleen, was boarded by Israeli Navy personnel and towed to Ashdod Port without incident.
The Foreign Ministry dismissed the Madleen as a publicity stunt, referring to the boat as a “selfie yacht” organized to “stage a media provocation.” Everyone aboard will be deported.
“The show is over,” the ministry said.
The boat carried twelve people who said they were sailing to Gaza to raise awareness and deliver humanitarian aid. Israeli officials noted that the Madleen was carrying “less than a single truckload of aid” to the Strip. After IDF forces took control of the ship Madleen overnight, Defense Minister Israel Katz directed the military to show the flotilla passengers footage of the October 7 massacre.
Showing this foe of Israel and her companions the atrocities is a good move. Whether or not the highly ill-informed puppet, Thunberg, learns important lessons about the anti-Israel rhetoric she spews remains to be seen. We’d love to know what really went through her mind watching the people she and they advocate for committing horrific crimes against innocent Israelis.