'Keep your eyes on Gaza': Greta Thunberg calls for focus on Israeli 'seige' and 'oppression'; says she's not the story

Greta Thunberg on Wednesday said global attention should remain on what she described as Israel’s “siege and oppression” of Gaza, not on her involvement in a humanitarian aid mission to the region. In a newly released video, the Swedish climate activist emphasised that the real story is the ongoing conflict, not her personal journey.

"We are here because when the international community, when international institutions, international law and our governments fail to keep people safe and are acting in a way that fuels and enables genocides to happen, then we have a responsibility to step up and be the adults in the room," she said in the video.

Further calling on people to focus on Gaza, the 22-year old added, "The story here is not that we are sailing to Gaza. The story here is that Israel is having a siege on Gaza and that Israel has been oppressing people for decades and decades and are committing ethnic cleansing, genocide, ecocide and all kinds of war crimes. That is the story here. So keep your eyes on Gaza."


The young activist embarked on her journey on Sunday aboard the Madleen, a compact vessel under the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's operation, transporting vital provisions including milk, rice, protein bars and tinned food for Palestinians in the conflict-affected region.


Israel's military has issued a firm response to the initiative, stating their readiness and intention to prevent the vessel from reaching Gaza. At a press conference, Israeli army spokesperson brigadier general Effie Defrin said, "The navy operates day and night to protect Israel's maritime space and borders at sea. We have gained experience in recent years, and we will act accordingly."

Also read: Greta Thunberg sails to Gaza with aid: Israel says 'we are prepared', threatens to raid ship

The Madleen, which began its journey from Sicily on June 2, represents an ongoing initiative by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a peaceful international organisation that has dispatched vessels to Gaza since 2010 to contest the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian assistance.

Thunberg was photographed on the vessel wearing a keffiyeh scarf and displaying a Palestinian flag, characterising the journey as an expression of solidarity. Her involvement has brought considerable international attention to the initiative.