Greta Thunberg is known for being a defender of issues involving the climate. On Sunday, she took an alternate route in her activism by setting sail for Gaza to provide humanitarian aid to the war-torn territory.
Thunberg joined 11 others on board the Madleen with plans of “breaking Israel’s siege” on Gaza, per the Associated Press.
“Game of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, are among those with Thunberg. Hassan has been barred from going into Israel because of her opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza.
They plan to reach Gaza in seven days — if they are not stopped.
The boat, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left southern Italy to bring aid and increase “international awareness” to the humanitarian crisis playing out there.
“We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying,” Thunberg said, adding, “Because 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.”
Aid is sorely needed in Gaza, where there is a risk of famine, experts state. Israeli restrictions have made it difficult to deliver aid to the approximately 2 million Palestinians who live there.
Thunberg, known for her climate activism, was expected to go to Gaza last month on another Freedom Flotilla ship.
They were stopped when the “Conscience,” another vessel from the Freedom Flotilla was attacked by two alleged drones off the coast of Malta.
