As you surely know, the “Freedom Flotilla,” which is a boat called the Madleen carrying a bunch of activists (most notably Greta Thunberg), is heading to Gaza with a bit of aid for civilians. (I heard it was enough aid for about a dozen Gazans, but I don’t know for sure.). Israel has vowed to block the ship, and in fact there is a UN report allowing Israel to impose a general blockade as a means of self defense (this followed a violent incident in 2011 when another Gaza Freedom Flotilla clashed with Israeli commandos, resulting in the death of 9 activists). If you’re a supporter of Israel like me, there’s a downside for whatever decision Israel makes: if Greta & Co. is allowed to pass through the blockade, they will broadcast loudly about how horrible Israel has been to Gaza; but if their boat is blocked, it’ll be a stopping of humanitarian aid—just a tiny amount, but, curiously, Greta still has a loud voice. And that will also look bad. I’m leaning towards letting the ship in, though I don’t know the consequences for the UN resolution.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has vowed to block an aid vessel carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching Gaza, by “any means necessary.”
The Madleen departed Sicily last Sunday, aiming to breach Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza, deliver humanitarian aid, and draw attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
According to a live tracker on board the vessel, it was sailing north of the Egyptian coastal city of Rosetta on Sunday morning, roughly 160 nautical miles from Gaza.
Katz said Sunday that he had instructed the Israel Defense Forces to “prevent the ‘Madelaine’ hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza.”
“To the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propaganda spokespeople, I say clearly: You should turn back — because you will not reach Gaza,” he posted on Telegram.
“Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or aid terrorist organizations — at sea, in the air and on land.”
On Sunday, a press officer for the Madleen, Hay Sha Wiya, said the crew was “preparing for the possibility of interception.”
One thing I’m sure of, unlike the previous incident, I don’t think the crew of the Madleen will use weapons as part of their “preparations.”
Here’s Greta making their case (note: I’m not vouching for the veracity of any assertion):
So, I’ll solicit comments (I no longer am able to insert polls:
What do you think of this molehill on a mountain? Should Israel let the Madleen into Gaza or should it intercept the ship and send it back? Or should it take some other action If you don’t care, there’s no need to say that.
Busting a legal maritime exclusion line during war – to aid the enemy to less – is an act of war and they could be legitimately sunk under international law.
That might be a tad extreme … a bad look… no matter how satisfying. They could intercept and arrest her and her LARPin’ crusin’ pals? *Grab and seize the boat.
If the notoriously lefty Israeli courts gave them bail they’d be outside the courthouse in the biggest media masturbation we’ve ever seen.
It is not an easily winnable situation and unfortunately I don’t own an armed frigate in the eastern Med.
Onwards Israeli heroes.
D.A.
NYC
I completely agree they are fair game for a military/defensive response, but, yes, better to just bring them to Israel for judicial processing.
I don’t think an individual can commit an act of war. She would have to be acting in the service of a state, commanding a commission in what the British and we Empire folks call a King’s ship. And of course, “the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.”
The important life-and-death decision is what she does as a private actor when the Israeli Navy challenges her boat and tells it over the loud hailer to stop and allow boarding for thorough inspection of her papers to find out where she’s heading and for any contraband not listed on her manifest, and for any bad actors of interest to the security services. Could take a while… Really boring Admiralty law stuff that the media will quickly lose interest over.
I always love your take on these issues.
Why stop them? They won’t affect anything on the ground in Gaza and with some luck, Hamas or desperate Gazans snatch them up.
Yes, they will bitch and moan about the humanitarian situation. However, how can they moan more than they are already doing?
There is no downside I can see for letting it pass. Any complications when stopping the boat could further escalate the diplomatic tensions. Just imagine if those activists, misguided they might be, come to harm.
But what if they come to harm at the hands of Palestinians, esp. Hamas? I don’t want that to happen, but people have suggested it as a possibility.
In that case Hamas might overplay their hand damaging its support among leftists. They would show their face biting the hands that feed them.
The activists knew the risks involved. They chose this, they agitated to get into Gaza. So let them have it.
I don’t see how that would hurt Israel.
If Hamas murders them, Israel will be blamed.
Are you kidding boss? Greta stoned to death for “dressing like a whore” or something — oh dear, oh no.. grab the tissues as I cry cry cry.
Given the chaos it wouldn’t surprise me if they ran aground there and were captured by “locals” who don’t know the wider implications. A job for Islamic Jihad Gaza (look ’em up) if ever I saw one! Recall the young “ally” Italian “freedom fighter” a few years ago who came under almost identical circumstances who lasted a few months before hanging.
Gaza..even in peace… doesn’t work like most places humans live. Let alone war.
And ethically: of all horrors – apparently Israel has the “obligation” to continue to feed their implacable murderous enemies and … now their Disneycruises houseguests?
A true Islamic beheading of Saint Greta and her family at Hamas’ (or the mob’s) hands is a win-win.
respectfully,
D.A.
NYC
That is a bit much there.
No one should want to see these idiots come to harm. I did not know about the Italian person, but that story is sobering.
Israel should make a direct statement “your security within Gaza is not our responsibility”, and if Greta is harmed in any way, they should immediately say “we told you so”.
It feels like the West constantly and consistently insists on underestimating the danger of Islamic terrorists and Islamic radicals. As evil as it may sound, maybe more wealthy and famous westerners should get to experience the pain firsthand so maybe, just maybe, if it hits close enough to them, maybe they’ll open their eyes and understand that you can’t treat Muslim fundamentalists as it they’re their non-religious, or barely Christian, next door neighbor.
I like what you say, Alex. That’s perfect. “Your security within Gaza is not our responsibility”. Period. I’d leave off the “We told you so” part. Easy for me to come along at the end of the day and pick others’ comments apart, huh? Sorry. I do think the less said, the better, though.
Imagine the high this chick is on (Greta T.). Twentytwo or three with the whole world focused on your wholesome little face. Crazy times. She’ll probably never have to perform an honest day’s work in her life
Reminds me of the old joke about the difference between an accident, a great loss, and a tragedy. Were the flotillistas to be taken hostage by Hamas that would be a tragedy. How do I know? Well, it wouldn’t be an accident. And it would be no great loss. So…
And fwiw I don’t want the people on that a stupid boat to come to any harm.
Well said Mike. I’m a little less circumspect. The lives of my enemies – my true real enemies – have negative value to me.
D.A.
NYC
I would prefer no-one associated with this stunt suffer physical harm. But maybe Israel could manage to stop the boat, deport GT back to civilisation, and have the others share cells with their Palestinian brethren for a few days, being sure to get covert full colour video of what happens in those cells.
Think I would let her land and watch as hundreds of Palestinians try to get their 10 seconds of fame in front of the cameras and then watch Hamas steal the food.
What a pathetic publicity stunt supporting terrorists.
Until this morning, moron Greta’s ship could be tracked here: https://freedomflotilla.org/ffc-tracker/. Today the link works, but the location tracking fails. Greta is blaming Israel for jamming their radio equipment. Apparently, the Madleen no longer knows where it is located.
I think that Israel should let Greta the Gnat land her flotilla. Escort the activists and their milk powder to one of the distribution centers and set them up at a table. But the Israeli defense minister is saying that Israel will not allow it to land. Stopping the boat and turning it back to where it came would be fine, but what if the idiots on board resist and Israel has to board the boat and arrest them?
We’re on our way to an international incident no matter what happens. The question on the table is “How big will that incident be?”
There’s more, of course. In addition, there is apparently a boat on its way to protest the Madleen. That boat is being piloted by activists opposed to moron Thunberg and her crew. I can’t find the link to this story at the moment. Finally, URI Geller reports that he’s the one who broke the Madleen’s navigation system: https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-856996
Thanks for the links Norman.
best as always,
D.A.
NYC
Oh shut UP, Uri, you fraud, you’re not helping.
Easy
Let Greta deposit her aid on the beach and sail away
This calls her bluff that ‘this is about humanitarian aid.’
Let her in, and her lies and Marxist agitprop will set off a new round of hatred for Israel.
Nice solution!
Israel should not allow this performative activist to enter Gaza primarily for her own safety. The region is an active war zone, with dangers not only from Hamas but also from other militant groups, such as the Mujahideen Brigades the group responsible for the murder of the Bibas children, Gadi Haggai, and Judih Weinstein and some Thai workers. Her presence in such a volatile area risks turning into a propaganda tool if anything were to happen to her, and unfortunately, terrorist groups understand that all too well
The IDF should step in and arrange for her return to Sweden. Even if she will trash them and make a big thing about it. The damage of something happening to her by Hamas and then being blamed by Israel will be far worse than sending her home. Also While her aid may be “well-intentioned’ , it’s too minimal to make a real impact and seems more geared toward gaining social media attention than providing any meaningful help.
In an ideal world I would like her and all the others to be used in a hostage exchange so we get our hostages back and they get the headache she is too the world.
Below is who is on the boat with Greta
Omar Faiad, a journalist for Al Jazeera Arabic the pro-Hamas channel that even ventured into Hamas tunnels to glorify the terrorist organization.
Yasemin Acar, a Berlin-based activist who was seen dancing in celebration during Iran’s missile attack.
Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist, who called it a great honor to attend the Hezbollah leader’s funeral, and was moved to tears mourning “the saint” Nasrallah.
Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament, who claimed Hamas had a legitimate cause, and falsely stated that Shiri Bibas and her two babies, Ariel and Kfir, were murdered by Israel.
What a crowd! Agree that they shouldn’t be allowed in.
Woa. Greta is running with a very different crowd these days!
And neither her nor her Islamonazi accomplices are the least bit “well-intentioned”.
It would make sense then that they would have a radio to contact the Hamasians to ensure a safe but propaganda-filled arrival. But Israel controls the sea there and laws are laws.
I think that Greta and co. should be very strongly advised against entering Gaza. If they insist on doing so, then let them (minus any material that could assist Hamas) and let them take their chances. But I’m open to persuasion that this is the wrong approach.
Edited to add: How on earth is a single boat a “flotilla”?!
Greta’s boat should be called a flotillus. My suggestion is that
Israel allow the boat to run aground on the Gaza beach, then offer to turn over 10 Arab convicts to Hamas if it will take Greta on as a new hostage.
Maybe calle it a flatus?
Hamas could take her hostage. Then what? Would that change any minds either way?
Dunno Andrew – it’d make my day. 🙂
D.A.
NYC
(I’m sailing closer to my comments limit than Greta is to Gaza Beach – sorry)
I haven’t the slightest concerns about Greta’s safety either in Gaza or in resisting the Israeli military. She is an adult, albeit a childish one. That said, Israel can’t allow the violation of the naval blockade, as it will only encourage more to come—and they will carry different forms of “aid.” The Israeli’s need to intercept the boat. They can either redirect it to an Israeli port so that the aid can be offloaded for later distribution, or they can offer to transfer the aid at sea into Israeli custody. Both will be refused. If the boat continues, then disable it. Document everything.
One point Doug – then I’ll do my level best to STFU. (This issue driver me bonkers)
You write this:
“She is an adult, albeit a childish one.”
That’s kind of the point. Outside the campus-swastika-keffiyeh – she OWNS the “vulnerable little child” pathos look – even sporting a felt green frog/kermit hat on one video. “I’m just a little kid….” bs. This is peak manipulation and I have contempt or those who swallow it. This is media/emotional manipulation at its finest.
She’s trading on the “cute school child moppet” look of old (2017) – which is incongruous now she has boobs and is a young adult woman of 22. Yet.. like Palestine.. she milks sympathy and her “Virtue Olympics” image for all it is worth.
The weapons of these people (virtue signalers and the masters of it: Palestine) for all it is worth. Watch the messaging more than the strategics.
respectfully Doug,
D.A.
NYC
I get what you’re driving at. Everyone’s taking the issue seriously while she’s playing a game. And winning! You are so right. That must be what makes me dislike her so much. I feel cheapened by devoting any of my attention to her. Anyone whose “profession” is activist, I think, by definition, is fake. If you truly care about something you ought not be profiting from it. Maybe I’m stating the obvious.
Israel must stop these folks before they get themselves killed and/or touch off a major incident. Hopefully this is done as efficiently as possible with not so much as a torn fingernail on anyone on the ship. Their main intent is media attention as that ship can’t possibly be carrying a meaningful quantity of aid; nor is a safe and effective means of distribution awaiting them. I think it is very unfortunate for some posters to wish violence on them. In addition to being intrinsically wrong, that would only serve to injure Israel.
I don’t think they should stop her. It would just give her more publicity. Besides, she might learn a valuable lesson from actually interacting with real life Palestinians.
It would be a strategic error to let that woman in. Because is she gets in, Why not any journalist?
I’m just gonna put this here: https://youtu.be/FOGG_osOoVg?si=qjJELrWmjzx3fwIC
Love it!
You made my Sunday, Ms. Spring. Thank you!
And note that this was 15 years ago – from the last idiot “flotilla”. LAST time they started a war!
What a recurrent malignant cancer Palestinian nationalism and its toadies and western useful idiots are.
best,
D.A.
NYC
Except the malignancy in this case is not “nationalism”, it is ultra-far-right Islamic supremacism.
THAT is effing funny.
I’m of a mixed mind. If the ship were carrying a large amount of aid, I’d be inclined to allow it to dock. However, if it were carrying only a token amount, then it’d be a publicity stunt and should be turned away. Israel needs to allow other organizations, though not the UN or the Red Cross, to supply aid to the civilians, as it cannot provide a sufficient amount by itself. These organizations must be required to use non-Gazan workers. I know that Hamas will then steal some of the supplies, but that cannot be prevented; however, by excluding the two groups that have aided Hamas in the past, some level of collusion may be prevented.
Greta should be demanding Hamas to stop attacking Israeli food aid.
What was Greta saying after the October 7th pogrom? Nothing. She is a brainwashed useless fool.
This kind of stunt is lose lose for Israel. Either it blocks the blockade and Israel will be the evil Goliath against the small righteous activists, or it lets them in and they can be a precedent for other groups. The group will not go in and then say “hey we were wrong, the Israelis are actually great!” So you don’t let them in and you make the attempt extremely expensive and painful.
You follow the boats from international waters, then when they enter, seize them, confiscate their phones and toss then into the ocean, require the crew to watch hours of the torture videos that Hamas gets a kick out of making, then deport the crew to Sudan, and scuttle the ships in an area that needs more reefs. For the environment. The aid, if there is any, can go with the crew to Sudan, where it won’t go to waste. The activists will also get a first hand look at a real war,.rather than the glamping experience they think the Gaza thing will be. It will be educational.
I agree that the boat must be stopped at sea. Only Hamas and the faux ‘humanitarians’ will gain, not Israel, if Israel lets the boat touch land in Gaza. Hamas will gain useful idiots to regurgitate propaganda to the world, while the useful idiots will gain the only thing they really want – which obviously isn’t to save Gazans from starvation by providing them with a few boxes of Kraft macaroni and cheese, but to garner attention for themselves.
However, while I love your ideas about what to do with Greta & Co. once they are in custody, that kind of treatment would, alas, give them the attention that they crave. So, regretfully, I think it would be best for Israel to bring this narcissistic stunt to an end in the least exciting or newsworthy manner possible. That would be by stopping them at sea without any drama, processing the passengers with the strictest legality, and then packing them onto planes out of Israel as rapidly as possible. Good riddance.
I would hope that Israel would retain possession of the boat until the miscreants have paid for what their stunt cost them.
At 1:15 am mst that’s exactly what Israel did so, they must be reading your comments.
I haven’t read all the above. But given the need for both safety and (gag) media spin, I think the smartest thing to do is to forcibly stop the boat, take the aid, and then tow the boat away. Make sure the media knows the aid is to be distributed to mothers and orphans in Gaza.
This seems a good example of the Peter Principle, but we don’t seem to hear that mentioned anymore. Why is that?
Perhaps we don’t hear about it because in today’s journalism, everyone has risen to their level of incompetence!
The current aid program is working. Until Greta and her cohorts can demonstrate they can differentiate between Hamas militants and resident Palestinians they should leave the aid disbursement to those that do know the difference between the two. Giving aid to the militants is wrong-headed and hurts the cause Greta is so adamant about
The armed wing of Hamas is Israel’s enemy. Civilians are suffering greatly and it is mainly women and children who are getting killed as the whole civilian population is very undernourished, particularly young children and babies. Any attempts to highlight this obvious injustice and the blatant ignoring of international law are justified and should be supported. Some commenter claimed that the GHF activity is working is bizarre. Only a maximum of 4 distribution centres are operating or planned. People, regardless of their physical condition are forced to travel huge distances to get a single box of aid. This is all while the pre-existing organisations have hundreds of distribution points but Israel seek to stop genuine and appropriate amounts of aid being delivered.
Israel won’t allow the flotilla to reach Gaza but I hope it does, to hopefully show that it could be done, encouraging others to offer assistance to people “living” in attrocious conditions.
Hmmm, how much aid did the Allies provide to German and Japanese civilians during WW2? I can’t seem to recall any such expectation, much less actual aid.
The only aid operation the Allies mounted toward a (technically) belligerent nation to my knowledge was Operation Manna. A few days before Germany’s surviving leaders emerged from Hitler’s bunker to surrender, its High Command by truce allowed the RAF to drop hundreds of tons of food into then-still-occupied Holland, agreeing not to shoot at the bombers, to rescue Dutch civilians teetering on the edge of starvation. Food distribution had pretty much gone to Hell as the Allies were driving the Wehrmacht out of the Scheldt Estuary. But of course the Dutch were our allies and what was left of the German occupation force had all but collapsed, close to starving themselves. Manna was aid into what would be enemy territory for another few days but it was delivered to civilians on our side, not the enemy’s. It illustrates just how difficult it is to get aid to civilians of a belligerent country even if you wanted to.
After Germany surrendered and laid down arms, humanitarian aid flooded into the wrecked country (much of it from France which had done very well out of the war), exactly the same as will happen as soon as Hamas surrenders in Gaza.
I don’t know what the equivalence is meant to be there but there are amazing (to me) justifications that some are making for the utter destruction of Gaza and the intended starvation of the civilians. Israel have ignored all security council resolutions that conflict with their leaders’ goals, and ignored international law. If that’s OK for them, then it’s OK for any nation.
The equivalence is pretty obvious, one would think. As for those UN resolutions, the UN has long been implacably hostile to Israel, issuing far more resolutions against it than against any other country on the planet. If you think Israel is the worst among all nations then I guess you find that justified. But over 50 Islamic nations have seats at the UN and most are vastly more oppressive than the world’s only Jewish state, which at present is trying to eliminate a Nazi-like external threat while at the same time aiding the civilians that Hamas explicitly wants to die as martyrs for Islam, and who voted Hamas into power in the first place.
Douglas Murray has convincingly argued that Hamas are worse than the Nazis in terms of their attitudes because the Nazis were ashamed of the Holocaust and tried to hide it from the world, whereas Hamas exulted in the atrocities they committed against Jewish civilians, Thai farm workers and the other “infidels” at the dance festival on October 7, filming and putting their atrocities online for the world to see.
I’m not sure if what you say is true about UN resolutions but that is completely irrelevant. SC resolutions are supposedly binding and ignoring them should incur at least sanctions.
I’m not trying to support the armed wing of Hamas but, as the Secretary General said, their actions didn’t happen in a vacuum. My thoughts are will the ordinary people of Palestine who were and continue to be forced from their lands and not allowed the freedoms that Israelis enjoy, nor allowed to develop their communities. I’m just amazed that so many here seem to regard them as what some Israeli politician termed “human animals.”
The U.N. is not a supra-sovereign law maker or enforcer. It is a chamber of hot air. No country would “obey” a U.N. Security Council resolution that ran contrary to its national interests. Israel ignores so many U.N. resolutions because almost all U.N. activity is aimed at hobbling or damaging Israel. I’m frankly amazed that you would think that ignoring UN resolutions is a knock against Israel. It’s a knock against the United Nations that Israel ignores its resolutions. You want Israel to respect them, make better resolutions.
I would like to compare your stance on Gazan civilians with your view on North Korean civilians.
In both cases, the leadership has behaved in highly aggressive ways, in both cases there have been sanctions and severe import limitations and in both cases the civilian population is starving but still supporting the leadership for the most parts.
Given these parallels, are you in favor of the UN finally getting its act together and shipping food and fuel to North Korea? Are you calling the sanctions on North Korea an “obvious injustice”? If not, why not? Where is the meaningful difference that starving North Koreans are just part of the pressure put on the North Korean leadership but if Hamas cannot feed its population, it’s totally different and must be stopped?
I would support any effort to provide aid to those who need it. It would preferably be distributed by an organisation not controlled by those in power in the country to which the aid is being delivered.
The Israeli Navy should blow the Madleen out of the water and send Greta and the rest of that shower to the bottom of the Med. Let the bottom feeders have a good snack (assuming bottom feeders will be able to stomach Greta). She and her fellow ignoramuses are attempting to aid and abet Hamas. In my book, that makes them a viable military target.
And there’s a double bonus :
1. A world without Greta will be 500 million times less annoying.
2. She wont be able to pass on her genes to the next gen. which will be of obvious benefit to the sapiens gene pool.
Murder is a crime in most countries.
Agreed but killing those who aid in the resupply of your enemy during war is not murder but military common sense and legitimate.
Well, there is law on that and it’s more restrictive. Traditionally, a belligerent’s naval forces could stop and search unarmed neutral vessels for contraband, typically arms, or a manifest indicating trade with the enemy. A warship could seize the vessel and put a prize crew on her, taking due care for the welfare of crew and passengers, and then sail it into one of its ports as a war prize. If the vessel was rendered unseaworthy during the confrontation, the souls aboard had to be taken into the warship, not merely put into lifeboats and abandoned to the sea. Nationals of the belligerent state could be interned, those of neutral states had to be repatriated. (Prizes were an important source of income for warship crews, much better than sinking.)
This all changed during the two world wars. A submarine is a fragile craft, at risk of near-instant destruction if an enemy warship or aircraft shows up. A sub can’t surface, come alongside, board and inspect without grave risk to itself. (Some British merchant ships during WW One were surreptitiously armed as Q ships, giving many a submarine commander a nasty surprise as he edged in to board.) It has no spare crew to sail the captured ship and it has no room to take aboard the captured vessel’s crew. Germany’s U-boat sailors suffered 70% losses. Germany announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare that broke all these rules out of military necessity: all ships apparently trading with Britain would be sunk on sight without warning and the crews would be abandoned in the water as the sub made its escape, fleeing the wrath of the naval escorts.
But where a warship has the advantage over the merchant ship and faces no risk, it must obey the traditional law. Stop, board, search, arrest if warranted, and spare life unless there is armed resistance. There is no general right to destroy wantonly any blockade runner that complies peaceably with instructions. If the vessel is carrying contraband to the enemy, by all means arrest it. But don’t kill anyone.
Ok fair enough. Nevertheless, should the Madleen be sent to the bottom, I for one won’t be losing any sleep. But that’s just me.
Not in Gaza, where Hamas murders its opposition on a regular basis.
Or in the West Bank where Israelis murder peaceful residents with impunity.
I think that some here have forgotten that most Palestinians are just humans trying to make a living.
Greta is going to Gaza, haven’t you heard. And in the 1930s most Germans were just humans trying to make a living too. All too many of them voted for Hitler.
Look.. 3 years ago I was in favor of the EU sanctions on Israel for its illegal settlements. Israel was throwing its military and economy power around and bullying the Palestinians with a justification that amounted to “if we don’t keep them down, they will attack us and try to kill us” while pointing to terrorism.
That was a weak argument in my view, since terrorism comes from exactly those situations Israel willingly created. If the Palestinians could choose between making a living and terrorism, surely they would choose the former if it was a decent option.
However, on October 7th, things changed. The (para-) military forces of Gaza attacked Israel under order of the Gazan leadership. This is a casus belli if I ever saw one and so bellum they got. Granted, given the thorny issue of statehood, declaring war is iffy, but in essence there is a war on between Israel and Gaza. I don’t think eliminating the regime that not only attacked you but vowed to attack you as long as it can is an unreasonable war goal. So the IDF starts making moves to reach those goals.
The interesting part is the Gazan population. For one, they have demonstrated that killing Jews is pretty popular among them. Even in starvation, they support Hamas and many still think the suffering was worth it since they got to kill so many Jews. The Gazans have agency – they could have ousted Hamas when it was crushed by the IDF and could no longer openly control the streets. They could have handed over the hostages to the IDF in exchange for peace. They didn’t. They made their choice. Is this the choice of “just humans trying to make a living”?
Israel has already said what its naval forces will do: interdict the boat, so no argument from me about that.
Under the law of the sea, the boat must stop when an Israeli vessel challenges it in Israeli waters. These include the waters off Gaza (Israeli sovereign territory) or anywhere else Israel deems to be necessary to secure a war zone. If the boat stops and allows Israeli soldiers/marines to board it for inspection, Israel could arrest it or turn it back if it’s not a security threat, Israel’s call. Israel is under no obligation to let it dock and let its people disembark. It should not, in my view, as this will only encourage other blockade runners until eventually someone will get hurt. If Israel turns the boat away and it makes another attempt to penetrate Israeli waters then surely it will be arrested and escorted into an Israeli port under armed guard.
After that it depends on what Israeli laws the boat has violated, if any. Are the marine toilets working properly to not pollute the sea? Occupational health and safety procedures and equipment up to snuff? Enough lifeboats? Any written record of mandatory lifeboat drills? Any infectious diseases on board? Any drugs hidden in the boxes of macaroni? And of course, any weapons or ingredients, like fertilizer? If Ms. Thunberg or her crew don’t have valid visas for Israel they can’t be admitted to Israel even if they haven’t broken any laws. It could take them a long time to get their boat back if a thorough search is necessary and they would have to be detained while it was being cleared to leave.
If the boat refuses to stop on challenge, then there will be progressively escalating shooting until it does stop. But it will stop. Short of that there is no need or justification to harm the boat or its occupants or let them drown. I’m sure the IDF has this figured out.
Gaza isn’t Israeli sovereign territory and the vast majority of countries recognise Palestine as a sovereign state.
Israel can put an armed ship between the Madleen and the Gaza beach. Let any other country that recognizes Palestine as a military ally and is able and willing to do the same contest the blockade and escort the boat into harbour.
If only some leaders had the guts.
No country is going to go to war over the wretched Palestinians.
Let them in, just not out.
I see they have al been arrested, and Israel is already oppressing the vegan Greta by offering her a pastrami sandwich!
i heard today that Israel has seized the ship, and detained Greta Thunberg–not good PR!
PZ Meyers over at the Cesspit essentially admits the whole thing is a publicity stunt.
One person in the comments seems to think Thunberg might go the same way as Epstein, and mentions stuff about cameras near her cell not working! Well, that conspiracy theory has already gone by the wayside. She’s on a flight home.