Greta Thunberg's Aid Ship Did What Politicians Won't – Stand Up To Israel, MP Says

Activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, board the Madleen boat, ahead of setting sail for Gaza, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025.In the early hours of Monday morning, Israeli drones began circling a ship that was sailing in international waters under a British flag. The drones sprayed the ship with a white paint-like substance, before commandos took control of the ship. Those on board were forced to throw their phones overboard before being taken into Israeli custody.There is a word for this: piracy. And surely in any other circumstances, the British government would be condemning the actions of the Israeli military and moving mountains to ensure the safety of those on board.But this isn’t other circumstances – this ship was the Madleen, part of the freedom flotilla aiming to get vital aid into Gaza after the Israeli government’s blockade. It was carrying supplies badly needed by those in Gaza, including medical supplies, flour, rice, baby formula, nappies, women’s sanitary products, water desalination kits, crutches and children’s prosthetics. On board were 12 volunteers including Greta Thunberg.The forcible and outrageous seizing of the ship by Israeli forces was not a surprise to many of those watching, nor to those on board. Anyone following the fate of previous flotillas will know that last month, the ship Conscience, which was also carrying aid to Gaza, was bombed by drones which blew a hole in the ship and set the engine alight.In 2010, 10 people on board the Mavi Marmara, a ship owned and run by a Turkish humanitarian foundation, were killed when Israeli commandos raided the ship in international waters. A UN investigation found that at least six of the deaths could be regarded as “summary executions”. Our governments should be shamed by the fact that it has been left to workers, campaigners and volunteers to risk sacking, arrests, or violence to do what those in power will not Knowing this, those on board must have been terrified when the drones began circling. I can’t imagine how they must have felt, knowing that they would soon almost certainly be at the mercy of the Israeli military forces who in 2018 were accused of tasering, beating and assaulting those on board two ships carrying aid to Gaza.The bravery of the 12 people who, knowing this, chose to make that journey is incredible. They put their bodies on the line because they have seen that the Israeli government’s refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza is causing untold suffering, and they were willing to put their own lives at risk to do something about it.That bravery should shame leaders across the world who have failed to take even the most basic steps to prevent the genocide we see taking place in Gaza. Here in the UK, ministers have used strong words to condemn the Israeli government’s actions – but have refused to call the genocide what it is, or to end their complicity with the horrors being carried out. The UK is still exporting parts for F35 fighter jets, in spite of the risk that they may be used to kill Palestinians in Gaza.Across the world, ordinary people are taking action for Gaza because their governments refuse to do so. Last week, French dock workers at a southern port refused to load crates containing armaments bound for Israel. The dock workers’ union told journalists: “It is unacceptable that CGT dockers should be the ones forced to uphold the fundamental principles of international law.” They are right: our governments should be shamed by the fact that it has been left to workers, campaigners and volunteers to risk sacking, arrests, or violence to do what those in power will not – act decisively to end the genocide in Gaza.Displaced Palestinians walk past the ruins of destroyed buildings along the Gaza City shoreline on Monday, June 9, 2025. Related...What Has Happened To Greta Thunberg's Aid Ship To Gaza? Here's What You Need To KnowUK Government Sanctions Two Israeli Ministers Over 'Extremist' Gaza CommentsDoctors In Gaza Give Their Own Blood To Save Their Patients

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