Israel wows to stop aid vessel from breaking Gaza blockade

KATZ CALLS THUNBERG 'ANTISEMITE', LABELS ACTIVISTS 'HAMAS MOUTHPIECES'

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Israel yesterday ordered the military to stop a humanitarian ship carrying activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, from breaking the blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

"I have instructed the military to prevent the Madleen flotilla from reaching Gaza," Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement from his office.

Calling Thunberg an "antisemite" and the group of activists "Hamas propaganda mouthpieces", he added: "Turn back because you will not reach Gaza."

The Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Italy on June 1 with the aim of delivering aid and challenging the Israeli blockade, which has been in place for years even before the Israel-Hamas war since October 2023.

In Egyptian waters