An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson noted a vessel carrying activists, including Greta Thunberg, was sailing toward Gaza, saying that Israel has experience “and will act accordingly.”
Thunberg, 22, set sail from an Italian port on Sunday with 11 fellow activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), aboard a vessel delivering a symbolic shipment of aid to Gaza, according to The Times.
“We are prepared for this case as well,” said Brigadier General Effie Defrin, the IDF spokesperson. “We’ve gained experience in recent years and will act accordingly.”
He did not provide further details, according to the report.
The FFC mission follows Israel launching renewed military operations in Gaza in March after ceasefire negotiations with Hamas collapsed.
The Israeli Navy intercepted the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, six ships that departed from Istanbul carrying 700 pro-Palestinian members from more than 50 countries to attempt to break a Gaza blockade, in May 2010, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), citing reporting. The operation left nine dead and sparked international outrage.
The “Flotilla Incident” was later the subject of a November 2014 decision by an International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor not to begin an investigation. ICC Pre-Trial Chamber then