Israel Deports Activists, Independent Discovers 'Flotilla' Isn't About Cruise Lines
Greta Thunberg, climate activist, finds herself deported by Israel after attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza with a 'symbolic amount of aid.' The Independent highlights her Instagram video, where she states Israel's actions violate international law. For those new to the region, Israel has maintained this blockade since 2007—a collective punishment that prevents basic goods and medical
supplies from reaching 2.3 million people, an act recognized as illegal under international law by numerous human rights organizations and the UN. Instead of merely reporting Thunberg's statement, one might consider that this isn't an isolated incident but a continuation of policy. This is the same blockade that led to the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla raid, where Israeli commandos killed nine
unarmed aid workers in international waters. The Independent's focus on Thunberg's celebrity status, while understandable, glosses over the systemic issue: Israel's consistent defiance of international norms regarding the siege of Gaza. (One might wonder if the next headline will be 'Independent Discovers Gaza Still Under Blockade, Again').