Greta Thunberg faces threats after joining Gaza-bound flotilla

A humanitarian flotilla heading to Gaza is facing open threats from pro-Israel figures, including a sitting U.S. senator, amid fears of a repeat of last month's Israeli drone attack on a similar vessel.

The Madleen, a boat organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), departed from Sicily on Sunday, carrying humanitarian aid and prominent supporters, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham. The mission aims to challenge Israel's ongoing blockade of Gaza, now in its 20th month.

But within hours of the departure, pro-Israel officials issued public threats. US Senator Lindsey Graham posted on social media: "Hope Greta and her friends can swim!" -  a statement widely condemned as incitement. Graham had previously suggested Israel could use nuclear weapons on Gaza.

The vessel is reportedly equipped with a live tracker, supported by UK-based Forensic Architecture, to document its route and any potential targeting.

The threats come just weeks after an earlier aid boat was struck by two Israeli drones off the coast of Malta on 2 May. The attack severely damaged the vessel but caused no casualties. Organisers say it was a targeted strike in international waters.

Despite these risks, the new flotilla continues its journey toward Gaza, highlighting the growing desperation around aid access.

"Israeli drones attacked our civilian aid ship, the 'Conscience', in international waters near Malta injuring four people, disabling the generator, setting the ship on fire, and leaving it stranded. Time and time again we have seen Israel act with impunity, it is impossible not to expect violence from an illegal occupation committing genocide and ethnic cleansing on the Palestinian people of Gaza," FFC Press Officer Hay Sha Wiya told The New Arab.

She said the FCC had not received any direct threats.

"We are an international collective of doctors, teachers, engineers, artists, lawyers, and human rights defenders who believe another world is possible so we will continue to use direct action by sea to attempt to break the illegal Israeli siege on the Palestinian people of Gaza," Hay Sha Wiya said.

Israel has shut most humanitarian corridors and continues to block UN-run operations. In their place, it has backed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial body condemned by the UN for operating outside humanitarian principles.

On Sunday, 31 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 were injured after Israeli forces opened fire on starving civilians gathered at two GHF distribution points in Gaza.

Speaking before departure, Thunberg said: "No matter how dangerous this mission is, it is nowhere near as dangerous as the silence of the world in the face of genocide."