**Greta Thunberg Sets Sail for Gaza to Challenge Israeli Blockade**

Climate activist Greta Thunberg, alongside 11 fellow campaigners, will embark on a journey to Gaza on Sunday afternoon in a bid to challenge Israel’s blockade of the territory. The group will set sail from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy on a ship called the Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Their mission aims to deliver aid and draw international attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

At a press conference held just before departure, Thunberg expressed the urgency and moral imperative of their mission. “We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying,” she said, tearfully. "The moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it's not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide."

Israel has dismissed allegations of genocide, labeling them an antisemitic “blood libel” and asserting that their actions are targeted at Hamas militants, not civilians.

Recent developments include Israel slightly easing its blockade of Gaza in mid-May, permitting limited humanitarian aid after a nearly three-month-long blockade. However, U.N. agencies and major aid organizations have raised concerns that Gaza could face famine if relief is not increased, citing Israeli restrictions, lawlessness, and widespread looting as significant barriers to aid delivery.

Joining Thunberg on this mission are "Game of Thrones" actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian descent, who has been barred from entering Israel due to her opposition to its actions in Gaza. The voyage is expected to take seven days if the activists are not intercepted.

This attempt follows a previous effort in early May, where another vessel from the Freedom Flotilla— the "Conscience"— was attacked by drones in international waters near Malta. The group has accused Israel of this attack, which resulted in damage to the ship.

The Israeli government maintains that their blockade is intended to pressurize Hamas to release hostages taken during their assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals, with 58 still held hostage.

In retaliation to the Hamas-led assault, Israel’s offensive has led to significant casualties and destruction in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 52,000 Palestinian deaths, primarily women and children, due to the sustained bombardment and ground operations.

According to activist Thiago Avila, the voyage of the Madleen is part of a larger strategy to challenge the blockade by both sea and land. Avila points to the upcoming Global March to Gaza, an international effort involving doctors, lawyers, and media, set to depart from Egypt and protest at the Rafah crossing in mid-June, calling on Israel to cease its offensive and reopen the border.