Greta Thunberg denies complaints Gaza Flatilla is an advertising

Greta Thunberg has reproduced criticism that a flotilla to Gaza of which she is a part is a stroke of advertising, saying that nobody would jeopardize only for attention.

The Swedish activist is on one of the 52 boats that form the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which heads for Gaza in order to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

The Israeli authorities ridiculed the GSF flotilla and similar sea attempts to reach the territory, calling the boat that Thunberg traveled in June a “selfie yacht”.

Asked about these criticisms of the flotilla by Laura Kuensberg of the BBC, the activist said: “I do not think that anyone risks their lives for a stroke of advertising.”

Speaking by navigating off the Greek coast, she said that the flotilla was not only a humanitarian mission, but that also sent a message to Gaza people that “when our governments did not intensify, people intervene”.

International aid agencies have attempted to bring food and drugs into Palestinian territory – but note that Israel restricts the flow of supplies. Israel says he is trying to stop these supplies falling into the hands of Hamas and has approved a help agency supported by the United States.

Last month, an organ supported by the UN confirmed that there was famine in Gaza and that the UN humanitarian chief said that it was the direct result of “systematic obstruction” of Israel of the aid entering the territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described this as “lie downright”.

Thunberg said the goal of the flotilla was to “break the illegal and inhuman seat of Israel on Gaza by the sea”. The Israeli army has long checked the waters that front Gaza.

Earlier this month, the flotilla was attacked by drones that dropped unidentified objects on boats outside the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou.

Another drone attack suspected on Wednesday, off the coast of Crete, led Spain and Italy to deploy naval ships to help the flotilla.

Addressing incidents, Thunberg accused Israeli officials of making “baseless threats” who violate international law and asked: “Why would they attack a peaceful humanitarian mission aimed at providing humanitarian aid to a hungry population?”

Israel did not comment on the drone’s attack, but previously said that it would not let the flotilla reach its destination.

Thunberg and 11 other activists were detained by the Israeli authorities in June after intercepted another boat towards Gaza with a quantity of token aid in the Mediterranean.

She was detained in Tel Aviv for a day before being expelled in France.

Thunberg accused Israel of illegally removing it and the other activists while they were in international waters. Israel said it prevented a violation of the sea blockade around Gaza.