Greta Thunberg faces the possibility of being imprisoned in harsh conditions as Israel develops strict detention strategies while the climate activist launches her second Gaza-bound “Freedom Flotilla” today.
The 22 year old environmental advocate is departing from Barcelona with the Global Sumud Flotilla, seeking to transport critically needed supplies to Palestinians in the devastated Gaza Strip, who have been driven to the edge of starvation by Israel’s continuing military campaigns.
Thunberg will undertake the dangerous voyage alongside Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham and Ada Colau, Barcelona’s former mayor, as part of an expanding group of activists determined to penetrate Israel’s blockade. The development comes as Israel declares Gaza City a dangerous combat zone.
The action occurs just weeks after the Swedish activist was apprehended in international waters during her first effort to reach Gaza in June, when Israeli forces boarded her vessel and arrested her along with 11 other passengers, reports the Express.
Imprisonment threat emerges
Now Israel’s hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is reportedly preparing to present Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a disturbing plan to confine flotilla activists in “terrorist-level” conditions at the infamous Ktzi’ot and Damon detention centers. According to Israel Hayom, the harsh measures would also result in dozens of vessels being confiscated and converted to establish a “maritime force for police operations” to bolster Israel’s naval blockade.
Sources close to Ben-Gvir issued a stern warning to potential activists, stating: “Following several weeks at Ktzi’ot and Damon, they’ll be sorry about the time they arrived here. We must eliminate their appetite for another attempt.”
Backing for operation
Speaking before her departure from Barcelona port, Thunberg informed Iranian Press TV that the flotillas seek to “deliver humanitarian aid and break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and open up a people’s humanitarian corridor”.
The activist disclosed that over 26,000 individuals have registered to participate in the mission to shatter the blockade on Gaza, with numerous ships anticipated to depart from Tunisia and other Mediterranean ports on September 4.
“This project is part of a global uprising of people standing up… when our governments fail to step up, the people will take their place, and that their atrocities and their complicity in the genocide in Gaza right now.. is not something that we can stand for,” she proclaimed.
Justifying her position
In a promotional clip for her latest Gaza endeavor, Thunberg emphasized the mission shouldn’t be required, stating: “It should not have to be up to us. A mission like this should not have to exist.
“It is the responsibility of countries, of our governments and elected officials to act to try to uphold international law, to prevent war crimes, to prevent genocide. That is their legal duty to do. And they are failing to do so, thereby betraying Palestinians but also all of humanity.”
Prior to departing, she rejected claims of anti-Semitism, stating to Sky News this weekend: “It is not antisemitic to say that we should not be bombing people, that one should not be living in occupation, that everyone should have the right to live in freedom and dignity, no matter who you are.”
Risky move
The Gaza maritime blockade has stayed in effect since 2007, with Israel routinely stopping vessels trying to break through it. The perils became devastatingly apparent in 2010 when Israeli commandos stormed a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla, resulting in the deaths of eight Turkish activists and an American-Turkish teenager.
Despite these hazards, Thunberg expressed she was more troubled by the “silence of the world” regarding the developing crisis in Gaza.
“I’m terrified to see that we seem to have lost all the humanity that we have, and there seems to be no compassion left in the world amongst the vast majority of people who are able to sit on the couch and watch the genocide unfold that I am terrified for,” she added.
Israel ready to respond The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has firmly stated its stance, declaring: “The IDF enforces the security naval blockade on the Gaza Strip and is prepared for a wide range of scenarios, which it will act upon in accordance with the directives of the political echelon.”
During Thunberg’s previous attempt in June, when she embarked from Catania, Italy, aboard the vessel Madleen with 11 pro-Palestine advocates, IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin cautioned: “For this case as well, we are prepared. We have gained experience in recent years, and we will act accordingly.”
After intercepting the June flotilla, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs ridiculed what it termed the activists’ “selfie yacht” carrying 12 “celebrity” campaigners, stating that the “tiny amount of aid” on board would be “transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels”.
The ministry even posted an image of Thunberg accepting bread from an Israeli soldier after she had grumbled about being “kidnapped” by Israeli forces.
