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The last time Greta Thunberg attempted to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip via sea, her “selfie yacht” was boarded by Israeli forces in international waters, and she was sent back to Sweden via Tel Aviv after a medical examination and a gift of sandwiches and water bottles.
This time, alleged drone attacks against the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla – which organisers say comprises about 50 civilian ships filled with lawyers, activists, politicians and more from 44 countries, including Australia – has prompted Italy and Spain to send naval vessels for possible rescues.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is making her second attempt this year to break the naval blockade against Gaza.Credit: AP
The Global Sumud Flotilla said it was attacked by “unidentified drones and communications jamming” by way of an ABBA song overnight while sailing in international waters 56 kilometres off Gavdos, the southernmost Greek island.
Drones or aircraft dropped “unidentified” objects on at least 10 flotilla boats, the Global Sumud Flotilla said, and at least 13 explosions were heard on or around several flotilla boats. A brief video showing what seemed to be an explosion on or near the vessel Spectre – which is carrying Sydney content creator Abubakir Rafiq – was posted by activists on Instagram. No casualties were reported.
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“Last night, our boat the Spectre was hit my three drones,” Rafiq said in an Instagram video on Wednesday. “Luckily, no one was injured, and no one was killed.”
Rafiq then highlighted the Palestinians being killed while lining up for humanitarian aid in Gaza, a sentiment echoed by Thunberg shortly afterwards, during a livestream.
“The most important thing isn’t that we were hit by drones. Drones are something that Palestinians experience 24-7,” Thunberg said, calling the strikes a “scare tactic” that was not going to stop the Global Sumud Flotilla from attempting to breach Israel’s blockade.
Thunberg accused Israel of endangering more than 500 unarmed civilians in the alleged attacks. Israel has not commented on whether it was responsible for the alleged attacks, but has previously said it would not allow the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is attempting to deliver food, water and medicine to Gaza, to reach its destination.
Israel’s foreign ministry alleged in a statement on Monday that the Global Sumud Flotilla was “organised by Hamas”, and called on the flotilla to dock at Ashkelon Marina in Israel and unload the aid supplies there, where the foreign ministry said it “will be transferred promptly in a co-ordinated manner to the Gaza Strip”.
On Thursday morning, the foreign ministry reiterated the offer, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow the breach of a lawful naval blockade. Is this about aid or about provocation?”
Italy, which sent a navy ship to assist the flotilla, has urged the flotilla to accept Rome’s proposal to hand over the aid to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Cyprus, which would then deliver it to Gaza.
“It is a proposal that seems to have the support of the Cypriot government, the Israeli government and, of course, the Italian government. We are awaiting a response from the flotilla,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in New York, where she is attending the same UN General Assembly as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, also in New York for the UN General Assembly, said in a press conference its government “insists that international law be respected and that the right of our citizens should be respected to sail through the Mediterranean in safe conditions”.
How did we get here?
On August 31, 300 people, including Thunberg and Rafiq, boarded at least 20 ships loaded with humanitarian aid in Barcelona, Spain, and set sail for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. More ships joined the maritime convoy from Tunisia and Catania on September 7.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is the largest civilian-led maritime mission yet against Israel’s 18-year-long land and sea blockade of Gaza, which has also been enforced with the assistance of the Egyptian military in the south.
Fifty to 70 ships from 44 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, are attempting to deliver food, water and medicine to Gaza, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirming last month that those in Gaza City are gripped by famine.
“I’m feeling probably every possible human emotion,” Thunberg told reporters in Barcelona ahead of her departure.
“I am feeling enormous grief for Palestine and for all other occupied people around the world. I am feeling joy and solidarity because we are able to mobilise so many people.
“I’m feeling extreme concern for the global developments we are seeing in the world where we are rapidly sliding into fascism and increased oppression of many kinds and also environmental destruction. I’m also feeling a huge betrayal towards those who are supposed to represent me, my government and the governments of the entire world.”
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