Israeli Defense Minister Katz instructed the army to keep the ship with Thunberg on board away from Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been instructed to prevent the "Greta Thunberg flotilla" from reaching the shores of the Gaza Strip. This was announced on Sunday, June 8, by the head of the Israeli Defense Ministry, Israel Katz.

"I have instructed the IDF to take measures to prevent the Madeleine hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza, and to take all necessary measures to achieve this goal," Katz wrote on the social network X (ex. Twitter).

The minister also called Greta Thunberg an "anti-Semite" and warned: "You have to turn back because you won't reach Gaza."

According to Katz, Israel will firmly resist any attempts to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip or provide assistance to terrorist organizations — "at sea, in the air and on land."

Pressure point: Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza as part of its operation

The IDF has stepped up operations around the entire perimeter of the exclave — during one of the strikes, the head of the military wing of Hamas was killed.

French MEP Rima Hassan announced on May 28 that Thunberg intends to visit the Gaza Strip as part of a humanitarian mission, despite its blockade by the Israel Defense Forces.