Greta Thunberg Gaza flotilla – live: Israeli forces detain Greta Thunberg after intercepting more than a dozen vessels
Greta Thunberg’s aid vessel was intercepted by the Israeli military as it neared the besieged Gaza Strip, Israeli officials have said.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said in an Instagram post on Wednesday evening that Israeli forces had boarded three of its vessels.
Israel’s foreign ministry later posted a clip on X of Thunberg being detained and said that “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy”.
“High alert. Our vessels are being illegally intercepted,” the group said in their post. “Cameras are offline and vessels have been boarded by military personnel. We are actively working to confirm the safety and status of all participants on board.”
The move has sparked a wave of backlash from the international community, with Turkey’s foreign ministry calling Israel’s interception “an act of terror”.
Israeli forces have stopped 14 boats carrying aid to Gaza, however 23 boats continue to sail onwards.
Nearly 500 activists, including Thunberg, were sailing on about 45 boats carrying aid through the Mediterranean Sea for more than a month, looking to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza as the enclave remained in the grip of widespread hunger.
