Israel threatens with violence: Thunberg and activists in danger in Gaza!

Israel threatens with violence: Thunberg and activists in danger in Gaza!

Gaza, Palästinensische Gebiete - The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is dramatic. Hundreds of thousands of people suffer from a lack of food, a destroyed infrastructure and an acute medical emergency. This emerges from reports from the newspaper of work that illuminate the entire scope of the crisis. The Israeli government, which has been holding the Gaza Strip under a strict blockade since 2007, relies on foreclosure and repression, which further exacerbates the situation for the civilian population. Against this background, the Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz announced that the army would prevent the "Madleen" ship of the "Freedom Flotilla Coalition" from access to the waters from Gaza.

The ship, which transports urgently needed relief supplies such as baby food and medical material, has caused a stir. In addition to the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, there are also eleven other human rights activists on board. Katz described it as a "left -wing extremist" and threatened with violence if they did not reverse. These threats are reminiscent of previous disputes, in particular the storming of the "Mavi Marmara" in 2010, in which numerous activists were injured and killed. According to experts, a violent action against the current ship would be a serious violation of international law.

The humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is significantly tightened by the blockade, the official objective of the Israeli government to weaken Hamas. According to reports, a large part of the population is hungry, medical care has almost collapsed, and clean drinking water is hardly available. The International Committee of the Red Cross (IKRK) warns that the civilian population suffers from massive withdrawal of humanitarian aid, which further strengthens the challenges for facilities such as the hospital in Al Ahli. There, the stocks of life -saving medication and materials are exhausted, and the water supply is unstable.

The situation is tightened by constant displacements and attacks on medical staff. The ICRC confirms that Israel is obliged to ensure the basic supply of the civilian population in accordance with humanitarian international law. The destruction of health facilities and the increasing attacks on medical staff have dramatic consequences for the already heavily loaded structures. Without immediate measures, the humanitarian crisis will further tighten, according to the clear words of Pascal Hundt, the deputy director of the IKRK department.

renewed tensions at sea

This year there was an incident when the ship "Conscience", which was also part of the Freedom Flotilla, was attacked. According to reports, drones were used to attack the ship, but without any significant injuries. Activists have now expressed concerns that Israel could also use similar tactics at the “Madleen”. This is a new attempt to disturb the auxiliary mission and maintain the pressure on the blockade.

The reactions to the upcoming activities of the "Madleen" set a strong sign against the situation in the Gaza Strip. Greta Thunberg spoke out for people's security on board and criticized the continued disregard for international law. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition plans to continue their mission despite the challenges and to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis.

It remains to be seen how the situation develops and whether the international community will be able to exert sufficient pressure on Israel to finally achieve a humanitarian solution. The voices of the activists and the civilian population in the Gaza Strip must finally be heard.