Aid ship reaches Israel after thwarted voyage to Gaza

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An aid ship denied entry to Gaza was towed to Israel late on Monday, after the yacht carrying activists including Greta Thunberg was boarded by Israeli troops.

The ship Madleen entered the port of Ashdod under escort by Israel's navy, in its first sighting since the Israeli military took command early on Monday. Organisers of the so-called Freedom Flotilla had tried in vain throughout the day to reach the 12 crew members, whom Israel said were unharmed.

"Upon arrival, arrangements will be made for their return to their respective home countries," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said. The activists were expected to be held at a detention facility in the Israeli city of Ramle before being deported, according to Adalah, a legal rights group representing the activists.

The yacht was carrying a small amount of humanitarian aid, including rice, baby formula and medical supplies, in a symbolic voyage in protest at Israel's blockade of Gaza. Crew members say they are unarmed civilians who pose no threat.

Organisers said on Monday afternoon they had no contact with the 12 crew members on board, and do not know their whereabouts. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said lawyers had "repeatedly contacted Israeli military officials" but received no response since the early hours of the morning.

"According to the Israeli Immigration Authority, they are not yet in custody," a statement said. Israel said the yacht was still on its way to shore.

The Foreign Ministry said the humanitarian aid on board would be taken to Gaza. "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," it wrote.

"The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries," Israel's Foreign Ministry earlier wrote on X.

All passengers were safe and unharmed, the ministry added. "They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over."

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had ordered the military on Sunday to prevent the vessel from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.

A previous yacht, Conscience, attempted the same voyage in May until it was halted by a drone strike that organisers blamed on Israel. The mission comes amid growing outrage at Israel for blockading aid entry into Gaza for 11 weeks.

As well as Ms Thunberg, the crew of the Freedom Flotilla includes French politician Rima Hassan, who is of Palestinian descent, and other volunteerefrom Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Brazil.

Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the activist group operating the vessel, posted on Telegram on Sunday night that it had been intercepted. "Connection has been lost on the Madleen," it wrote. "Israeli army have boarded the vessel."

Mr Katz said he instructed the military to show the activists videos from the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel carried out by Hamas. "It is appropriate that the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organisation is they came to support and for whom they are working," he said.

However, Mr Katz said that after the activists were taken to a room to view the footage, they refused to watch it.

The yacht Madleen is named after a Gazan fisherwoman, according to the activist organisation, which says the flotilla is "carrying a cargo of hope and humanitarian aid".

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, said she had lost contact with the vessel.

“I heard the soldiers speaking while the captain was on the phone with me,” she posted on X. “I lost connection with the captain as he was telling me that ‘another boat is approaching’.”

The vessel was carrying several Turkish citizens, including Suayb Ordu, an activist who has been involved in Palestine advocacy for years. Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Israel's intervention was a "clear violation of international law".

"This heinous act by the [Benjamin] Netanyahu government, which threatens freedom of navigation and maritime security, once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state," it said.

"Israel's aggressive and unlawful actions will not silence the voices that stand up for human dignity and universal values."

France said it would work to ensure the rapid return home of French citizens aboard the boat. Spain's Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s top diplomat in Madrid to protest the intervention, local media reported.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the Israeli interception of the vessel, calling it a "form of piracy".

Tunisian convoy

In a separate effort, hundreds of people on Monday launched a land convoy from Tunisia bound for Gaza, with which activists similarly aim to "break the siege" on the territory.

Organisers said the nine-bus convoy was not bringing aid into Gaza but aimed at carrying out a "symbolic act" in support of Gaza. The "Soumoud" convoy, meaning "steadfastness" in Arabic, includes doctors and aims to arrive in Rafah, in southern Gaza, by the end of the week.

It is set to pass through Libya and Egypt, although Cairo has yet to provide passage permits. The Rafah border crossing has been closed since Israel seized control of it last May.

"Egypt has not yet given us permission to cross its borders, but we will see what happens when we get there," activist Jawaher Channa told AFP. She said the convoy was not expected to face issues crossing Libya "whose people have historically supported the Palestinian cause".

Algerian, Mauretanian, Moroccan and Libyan activists were also among the group, which is set to travel along the Tunisian and Libyan coasts before continuing on to Rafah through Egypt.

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