From the Liveblog of
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Katz says he’s instructed IDF to prevent Greta Thunberg’s boat from breaching Gaza blockade
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Defense Minister Katz says he has instructed the military to prevent a high-profile activist mission sailing to Gaza in an attempt to challenge Israel’s blockade from reaching the Strip.
The Madleen boat was organized by the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Among the 12 activists on the ship are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila and Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian European Parliament member.
“I have instructed the IDF to act so that the Madleen does not reach Gaza. To the antisemitic Greta and her friends, I say clearly: You should turn back, because you will not reach Gaza,” Katz says in statement.
“The State of Israel will not allow anyone to violate the naval blockade on Gaza, the primary purpose of which is to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas, a murderous terror organization that holds our hostages and commits war crimes,” he adds.
The Times of Israel Community.