In a statement released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry after abducting the Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship on a humanitarian mission to break the siege by proving food to the Palestinians stated: “All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.”

This is coming after several outrage from the international communities when the Madleen was reportedly intercepted and seized by Israeli forces in int’l waters

Greta Thunberg, one of the activists aboard the humanitarian ship in a video released said:  “My name is Greta Thunberg and I am from Sweden. If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel.”

However, the Foreign Ministry of Israel in an effort to belittle and down play the tension gathered in a statement released described the activist ship as “selfie yatch” due to the attention it gathered in the cause of its arrest on the international waters.

The statement released on X read:” “All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.

“The “selfie yacht” of the “celebrities” is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.

“While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza.

“There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies.

“The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the “celebrities” will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels.” The ministry mocked.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories had reported the ship arrest stating that the Madleen was assaulted when Quadcopters surrounded the ship, spraying it with a white paint-like substance.

One of her report read: “11:18PM UK time; I am with the flotilla online. They have just been reached by the Israel speedboats – 5 vessels circling the flotilla. The captain is instructing the team to stay calm and seated, with their passports and life jackets on. I hear them speaking with Israeli soldiers as I type… telling they are carrying humanitarian aid and go in peace. For the time being they are just circled. I am with them, recording everything.”

With many SOS calls asking international communities to pressurize the Israeli government to release Thunberg and the 11 other activists from different countries.

Richard Burgon, British Member of Parliament for Leeds East wrote on X: “I’ve contacted the Foreign Secretary urging him to act to stop Israel from attacking the Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship. This humanitarian mission must be allowed safe passage to enter Gaza through Palestinian waters. Israel has no right to block or threaten it.”

By: Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth