Gaza Freedom Flotilla crew talk to MEE as Israel threatens to intercept boat heading to Gaza

Video Description

As the Madleen Gaza Freedom Flotilla faces threats of interception by Israeli forces, three crew members speak to Middle East Eye about the growing threats from Israel as they approach Gaza and their determination to reach the Strip. “We do not ask an oppressive regime for permission to try to stop their violations,” says Thiago Ávila, a member of the flotilla's steering committee, responding to Israeli threats. “Defence Minister Israel Katz, we do not fear you.” On Sunday 8 June, Yasemin Acar an organiser on board, reported that communication signals have been jammed - a potential sign of an imminent interception. “If the violence comes, it comes from the Israeli occupation forces,” she said, after Israel said it would deploy naval special forces to stop the boat, which is carrying humanitarian aid including food, medicine, and prosthetics for children. French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, also aboard, warns that the boat may be intercepted within 24 hours. The crew is preparing for possible arrest or diversion to the Israeli city of Ashdod, near Gaza, but still called for global support: “We call on the international community to raise awareness about the crimes committed in Gaza.” The Madleen, which set sail from Sicily on 1 June with 12 activists including Greta Thunberg, is determined to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver urgent aid to besieged Palestinians. ____ Catch MEE LIVE, our new biweekly live news programme, where we take a look at the news shaping our world through breaking coverage, expert analysis and hard-hitting interviews. MEE LIVE: Tuesday & Thursday | 12pm ET | 5pm BST | Join the conversation at [email protected] Support stories that matter. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR0fZh5SBxxMNYdg0VzRFkg/join Subscribe to our channel: http://ow.ly/AVlW30n1OWH Subscribe to MEE Telegram channel to stay up to date: https://t.me/MiddleEastEye_TG Middle East Eye Website: https://middleeasteye.net Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeasteye Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/MiddleEastEye Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/MiddleEastEye Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye