Storms and Israeli ‘terror cell’ threats: What we know about Greta Thunberg’s blockade-busting Gaza aid flotilla
An aid flotilla bound for Gaza carrying Greta Thunberg was forced to return to port in Barcelona on Monday due to a storm – just a day after it set sail.
The Global Sumud Flotilla left the Spanish city on Sunday, carrying food, water and medicine in what activists claimed was the largest civilian maritime mission to Israel of the war so far.
But just hours into the journey, the flotilla returned to port due to adverse weather conditions, and it remains unclear when it will set sail again.
The Independent looks at who is taking part in the flotilla and the challenges it faces en route to the war-torn region.
The Global Sumud Flotilla consists of dozens of boats carrying pro-Palestinian activists who are aiming to break Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza and deliver food and supplies to the enclave.
Organisers say the flotilla is the largest maritime mission to Gaza so far. According to Al Jazeera, it is made up of more than 50 ships and delegations from at least 44 countries.
Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau are also part of the flotilla.
The first convoy had been due to arrive to meet with a second wave of vessels in Tunisia on Thursday.
Israeli national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is said to be drafting up plans for the arrest of Thunberg and the seizure of the flotilla, Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported. There are plans to convert the ships into a police fleet.
Sources close to Ben-Gvir told the newspaper: “Following several weeks at Ktzi’ot and Damon (Israeli prisons), they’ll be sorry about the time they arrived here. We must eliminate their appetite for another attempt.”
They added that Thunberg could be detained in “terrorist-level conditions”.
Israel Hayom reported that a meeting was set to take place at Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence concerning their strategy against the more than 200 people who are part of the flotilla.
The newspaper reported that last Thursday, Mr Ben-Gvir developed a strategy he was to present to Mr Netanyahu, which would see the detainment of activists in the Ktzi’ot and Damon detention centres for females.
Gaza is currently in the grip of famine, according to the United Nations and other major humanitarian organisations.
