Greta Thunberg has shown her support for the British proscribed terror group Palestine Action by wearing their t-shirt as she sets off on a flotilla to deliver vital supplies to Gaza.
She was waved off by thousands of people as she embarked on the journey from Barcelona after being detained by Israeli forces in June.
The eco-activist said: ‘The story here is about Palestine. The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive’.
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As she spoke she wore the ‘We are all Palestine Action’ t-shirt that led to more than 500 people being arrested in Parliament Square earlier this month.
Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Thousands of supporters flocked to the Barcelona pier, some of them wearing kaffiyehs and chanting ‘Free Palestine!’ and ‘Boycott Israel!’ to send off a wide variety of boats, flying Palestinian flags, from rundown old luxury yachts to tiny wooden sailboats and industrial-looking vessels.
One of them, the Sirus, is more than 100 years old.
Ships carrying tons of humanitarian aid departed from the Italian city of Genoa and will join the expedition in the coming days.
The Global Sumud Flotilla will be the fourth attempt to break the maritime blockade so far this year. The Conscience first tried in May, but was attacked by drones after setting sail from Malta. After the Madleen, the Israeli military stopped another aid ship, the Handala, in late July, detained 21 international activists and reporters and seized its cargo, including baby formula, food and medicine, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Thunberg said: ‘It should not have to be up to us. A mission like this should not have to exist.
‘It is the responsibility of countries, of our governments and elected officials to act to try to uphold international law, to prevent war crimes, to prevent genocide.
‘That is their legal duty to do. And they are failing to do so, thereby betraying Palestinians but also all of humanity.’
It’s not the activist’s first journey to Gaza with Thunberg setting sail on the Madleen boat on June 1 along with other activists from France, Ireland, Italy. The group were snatched by Israel while in international waters.
After being taken to an Israeli prison for migrants, the flotilla activists have reportedly been taken to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport to be deported.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said: ‘Some of the “Selfie Yacht” passengers are expected to leave within the next few hours.
‘Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorise their deportation.’
Representatives from each of the activists’ home countries met with them, it has been reported. Most are expected to appear in court in Ashdod, Israel.
The activists were shown a video of the October 7 attacks before being deported, according to Israeli media, but refused to watch the footage.
Their detainment has sparked international outrage, with many pointing out it’s illegal under international law to interfere with freedom of navigation and to block aid.
What is the Freedom Flotilla Coalition?
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a group of people working across the world to end Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
The organisation, which was founded in 2015, have been involved in several missions before.
In 2015, the Freedom Flotilla III set sail from Athens and planned to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, but was intercepted by the Israeli navy around 100 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza.
A year later, a crew of 26 women set sail in 2016 to highlight the struggle of women in Gaza.
It was divided into three legs: Barcelona to Ajaccio, Ajaccio to Messina, and Messina to Gaza. Each leg was crewed by thirteen volunteers with several members alternating at different legs of the voyage.