Israel vows to block aid ship bound for Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that he had instructed the military to prevent the aid vessel Madleen from reaching the Gaza Strip.

The ship, part of the international Freedom Flotilla Coalition, is carrying humanitarian supplies and activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. Organizers stated the vessel was in international waters off the coast of Egypt and expected to approach Gaza later in the day.

"The flotilla is led by a gang of antisemitic and anti-Israel Hamas propagandists, and they will not reach the coast of Gaza," Katz said in a statement, directly addressing the activists. "Turn back now."

He instructed the Israeli Navy to intercept the vessel and "take any necessary measures" to stop it, asserting that Israel would not permit any violation of the maritime blockade, which he said is in place to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.

The voyage comes about a month after another coalition vessel, Conscience, was reportedly damaged by a drone strike in international waters near Malta.

Israel has maintained a strict blockade on Gaza since 2007, when Hamas took control of the territory. The restrictions have been significantly tightened since the deadly October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on southern Israel. The ongoing conflict, now in its 21st month, has triggered a devastating humanitarian crisis.

United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of imminent famine in the densely populated territory of 2.3 million people. The UN says the entire population is facing extreme food insecurity.