US senator shares worrying message to Greta Thunberg
(MENAFN) US Senator Lindsey Graham has posted a grim message aimed at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who recently joined a maritime mission attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The Republican senator, known for his strong pro-Israel stance and ties to former President Donald Trump, made the remark on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Hope Greta and her friends can swim!”—a comment widely interpreted as a threat or warning that the activist's boat could face violence.
Thunberg is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FCC), which announced on Sunday that one of its vessels, the Madleen, had set sail from Sicily toward Gaza, carrying a small but symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid. The yacht carries 12 people, including Thunberg.
The warning from Graham follows an earlier incident in May, when another vessel from the FCC, the Conscience, was struck by drones in international waters near Malta. The organization blamed Israel for the attack, though Israeli authorities have not issued any statements on the matter.
Ahead of her departure, Thunberg defended her participation, stating that “no matter how dangerous this mission is, it is nowhere near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the lives being genocized [sic],” referring to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly denied allegations of genocide, arguing that the suffering in Gaza stems from Hamas’ refusal to disarm. The Israeli government maintains that the blockade—enforced since 2007—is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Palestinian militants.
The situation in Gaza has grown increasingly dire, with the UN reporting that 20% of the population is facing starvation amid a new Israeli military push that began in March.
The conflict escalated following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which left roughly 1,200 people dead and 250 taken hostage. In the 18 months since, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 54,400 Palestinian deaths, nearly half of them women and children, and more than 124,000 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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