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Topics: Greta Thunberg, Israel, World News
Joe Yates
Topics: Greta Thunberg, Israel, World News
Climate and political activist Greta Thunberg claimed in a pre-recorded video that Israeli forces had 'kidnapped' her after they 'intercepted' the vessel she was on.
The 22-year-old Swede, along with 11 other activists, was traveling to the Gaza Strip on a boat named Madleen to bring aid to Palestinians as well as raise awareness for the ongoing humanitarian crisis, they explained last Sunday (June 1).
However, the British-flagged boat operated Freedom Flotilla’s (FFC), which set off on the same day from Sicily, was allegedly stopped by Israeli forces while in international waters.
Speaking out prior to leaving, Thunberg said (via The Guardian): “We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying.
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“Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And, no matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the livestreamed genocide.”
Israel has condemned and fiercely rejected any allegations of genocide.
Now, in a pre-recorded video uploaded to Twitter at 8.43pm ET yesterday (June 8), the climate campaigner can be heard saying: "My name is Greta Thunberg and I am from Sweden.
"If you see this video we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces - or forces that support Israel.
"I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible."
The FFC describes itself as a 'people-to-people grassroots solidarity movement' with its mission 'to end the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza'.
The vessel had relief aid for Palestinians, in the form of food, like rice and even baby formula (via Newsweek).
However, since then, Israel Foreign Ministry has issued a statement which says that the Madleen is 'safely making its way to the shores of Israel' and that those on board are 'expected to return to their home countries'.
They also added that the passengers were safe and unharmed, Sky News reports, and were provided with sandwiches and water.
However, in a post on their Twitter page, the foreign ministry also said (via the BBC): "While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity - and which included less than a single truckload of aid - more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza.
"There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip - they do not involve Instagram selfies.
"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."