Israel Prepares Naval Interception Freedom Flotilla Gaza

Israel is preparing to intercept and block the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, a humanitarian aid ship named Madleen, carrying activists such as Greta Thunberg, Liam Cunningham, and Susan Sarandon, from reaching Gaza. Despite the vessel posing no security threat, Israeli authorities fear permitting it to dock would challenge the longstanding naval blockade of Gaza, which has been in place for nearly two decades. Israeli naval forces, including the Shayetet 13 commando unit, are on alert and may seize the ship and deport the activists, with decisions pending high-level meetings. The flotilla's organizers and international legal experts warn that intercepting the ship would violate international law and constitute a war crime, emphasizing the humanitarian nature of the mission and the need to break the blockade. Activists aboard remain defiant, prepared for potential violent measures by Israel, and seek international support to highlight the plight of Gaza’s population. Surveillance by drones and suspicions of possible cooperation between Greece, the EU, and Israel add to the tensions surrounding the mission.