Greta Thunberg Gaza flotilla – live: Aid ship reaches port after Israel vows to deport all activists on board
The Madleen boat has reached the Ashdod port in Israel after Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound vessel off the coast of Egypt.
Israel has vowed to deport all 12 activists on board the Madleen, including climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The UK-flagged boat, which was carrying a symbolic amount of aid and intended to break Israel’s naval blockade around Gaza, in place since 2007, was intercepted in the early hours of Monday morning.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organised the voyage, said the activists were “kidnapped by Israeli forces” while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory.
The Israeli foreign minstry said the passengers of the boat are currently undergoing medical examinations after arriving at Ashdod port.
Defence minister Israel Katz has dismissed the activists as engaged in a publicity stunt and said the vessel would be transported to the port of Ashdod.
Mr Katz said he had told the military to force the passengers to watch videos of the Hamas atrocities of 7 October upon arrival “to see exactly who the terrorist organisation they came to support and for whom they work is”.
