What began as a peaceful mission to deliver aid to Gaza ended with Greta Thunberg and her crewmates in the custody of Israeli forces, writesRosemary Sorensen.

THE PENNY HAS finally dropped that the people on board the little ship namedMadleenthe latest Freedom Flotilla to try to break Israels blockade of the Palestinian port in Gaza since theFree Gaza Movementfirst sent passenger boats in 2008 were in danger for their lives.

Thenews camethrough on Sunday, Australian time, that the Israeli armed forces had boarded the Madleen as it approached Gaza with no weapons and a cargo of aid.

Avideosent by the activists showed the moments when the 12 people were told to ditch their phonesand a pre-recorded message fromGreta Thunbergwas released by theFreedom Flotilla Coalition, saying:

Greta Thunbergis drawing international outrage towards the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the bullies are triggered.

Simultaneously, Israeli Foreign MinisterIsrael Katzfollowed up his earlier threat that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) wereinstructedto take whatever measures are necessary, with astatementthat The show is over.

Sydney-based Free Gaza spokespersonMichael Coleman, who was taken off a Freedom Flotilla ship anddetained in 2011, said the group would likely now be subjected to violence and detention.

Coleman said:

Reports in Australian media since the Freedom Flotilla Coalition launched the Madleen from the Italian port of Catania on 1 June have been sparse.

As global scrutiny intensifies, the silence around Israels actions in Gaza is breaking, revealing a decades-long impunity now impossible to ignore.

Said Coleman about the presence of Swedish climate activist and Palestine supporter Greta Thunberg:

As Independent AustraliasMichelle Pinihaswritten, the attacks on Thunberg have been vicious, led by Israel Katz, who included the rote claims of antisemitism and called the little ship a hate flotilla.

Few reports, outsideAl Jazeera, have mentioned that also on board alongside Thunberg are French European Parliament MemberRima Hassan, Brazilian political journalistThiago Avila, French doctorBaptiste AndreandSea Shepherdcrew member, Spanish activistSergio Toribio. French journalistsOmar FaiadandYanis Mhamdiare also on board.

As Coleman told theABC, Those on board would be well aware of the risks and low likelihood of reaching Gazas shores.

The Free Gaza Coalition is keeping people up to date with this latest, and smallest, attempt to bring the illegal blocking of humanitarian aid into the port of Gaza to worldwide attention.

Echoing the statements posted onTelegramby Thunberg as the Madleen approached Egypt on its route to Gaza, Coleman said:

By refusing to sanction Israel, Australia is exposing a double standard that threatens its claim to moral leadership on the world stage.

Coleman said his commitment to Palestinian rights began on his first visit to the West Bank in 2008, when he fell in love with the people and a realisation of the misinformation about their treatment under Israeli occupation:

Theres a determination in Colemans voice, despite his knowing what its like to be detained by Israeli forces, held in prison and then deported to Australia.

He is resigned to the Madleen crew undergoing the same treatment, although they are aware that Israels violence on civilians in Gaza has continued and even increased over the past few months, despite calls for a ceasefire.

Will the Freedom Flotilla Coalition continue to launch ships towards Gaza?

Theres no doubt, Coleman says. Our governments fail, so we sail. Well sail until Palestine is free.

Rosemary Sorensenis an IA columnist, journalist and founder of the Bendigo Writers Festival.

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