Troops divert Gaza-bound aid boat carrying activists

Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound aid boat yesterday morning, preventing the activists onboard, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, from reaching the blockaded Palestinian territory.

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The Madleen departed from Italy on June 1 aiming to bring awareness to food shortages in Gaza, which the United Nations has called the “hungriest place on Earth”. After 21 months of war, the UN has warned the territory's entire population is at risk of famine.

AFP lost contact with the Madleen early yesterday morning.

At approximately 3.02am CET (1.02am GMT), Israeli forces “forcibly intercepted” the vessel in international waters as it was approaching Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement.

“If you see this video we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters,” Ms Thunberg said in a prerecorded video shared by the coalition.

The Palestinian group Hamas condemned the diversion, saying in a statement the boat was being taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The Israeli government had vowed to prevent the “unauthorised” ship from breaching the naval blockade of Gaza, urging it to turn back.