Greta Thunberg: Stocked auxiliary ship to Gaza - provocation or need?

Greta Thunberg: Stocked auxiliary ship to Gaza - provocation or need?

Gazastreifen, Palästina - Greta Thunberg and several other activists were now stopped by Israeli authorities when they wanted to transport relief supplies for the Gaza Strip with their sailing ship. The ship is brought to the Israeli coast and the passengers are supposed to return to their home countries. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the campaign as a media provocation that serves to attract public attention. The cargo of the ship, which included baby food and medical goods, was classified as slightly, not even comparable to a truck delivery, such as [OE24] (https://www.oe24.at/weltpolpolppih/israel-stoppt-hilfsschiffsschiffs- von-greta-thunberg/636646330).

The Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz had instructed the army to prevent the ship's arrival. Katz said that Israel would not allow anyone to break the sea blockade of the Gaza Strip. Thunberg and her colleagues stood sail from Sicily on June 1st to draw attention to the humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip, where about two million people live. This campaign was organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which the activists called "kidnapped" when the ship was stopped by Israeli forces.

background of the blockade

The blockade of the Gaza Strip has been a central topic in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for many years. Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade since 2007, which was further tightened after Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. This military campaign led to around 1,200 fatalities on the Israeli side and exposed Palestinians to the repeated military operations. According to reports, over 54,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, have been killed, and about 90% of the population in Gaza are now dependent on international help.

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is still tense. The Gaza Humanitrian Foundation (GHF) recently had to hire the distribution of relief goods after the Israeli military had shot near their distribution centers. As a result, the GHF asked the population to stay away for their own security. The closure of these centers is temporary, and the duration is previously unknown, as reported.

political reactions

Thunberg is internationally renowned for their commitment to climate protection and has also spoken out for the interests of the Palestinian population. In a previously accepted message, she called on her supporters to urge the Swedish state to support their release. The GHF recently announced that they were able to spend 1.4 million meals after the blockade of the aid deliveries was relaxed last month. Nevertheless, experts warn that the humanitarian situation could accept catastrophic proportions should the blockade and military operations not stop.

The events around the auxiliary ship and the continuing fights show the complexity and precarious situation of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, which is urgently dependent on humanitarian support. While international attention for the humanitarian situation is growing, the diplomatic solution to the conflict remains a challenge.