Claiming To Be Kidnapped, Greta Thunberg Asks To Press Israel

Greta Thunberg on the ship to Gaza/PHOTO via Instagram @gretathunberg

JAKARTA - Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg said Israeli forces removed her during an aid mission to Gaza in a video published on Monday.

Greta Thunberg called for pressure on Sweden to seek the freedom of all volunteers.

"We have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli forces or troops supporting Israel. I urge all my friends, family and friends to pressure the Swedish government to release me and others as soon as possible," Thurnberg said in a video published by Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which operates the ship. .

Earlier, Reuters reported that the Israeli military boarded the cruise ship Madleen, which Thunberg and other volunteers were traveling to the Gaza Strip, then the communication channel with the ship was cut off.

Israel's foreign authorities later said the ship was sailing to the Zionist State coast, and that all passengers were expected to return to their country.

Israel accused Thunberg of trying to carry out a "media provocation," but stated that the humanitarian aid on the ship would still be sent to the Gaza Strip through existing humanitarian channels.

Apart from Thunberg, the English-flagged Madleen also carried about ten other pro-Palestinian volunteers. The ship sailed to the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

The volunteers stated they were heading for the area on a humanitarian mission.

Israeli authorities have interpreted the volunteers' actions as an attempt to provoke widespread public anger and foster anti-Israeli sentiment in the world amid conflicts and humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip.