Israeli authorities screened footage of Hamas’s October 7 atrocities to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian flotilla participants upon their arrival in Ashdod on Monday, shortly after the IDF intercepted their ship, the Madleen, in international waters.
According to Defense Minister Israel Katz, the activists refused to continue watching the film after seeing the brutality of the attacks.
"These antisemitic flotilla activists closed their eyes to the truth and once again proved they prefer the murderers over the victims,” Katz said. “They continue to ignore the atrocities committed by Hamas against Jewish and Israeli women, the elderly, and children.”
The activists were given the option to sign a voluntary departure form or face arrest after 96 hours. Among those refusing to leave is French MEP Rima Hassan.
Hassan has previously drawn wide criticism for her denial that the Bibas family, excluding Yarden Bibas, were murdered, her claim that the October 7 massacre was “legitimate” and her insistence that Palestinians in Europe should be allowed to join the “resistance.”
Lol what. > 33% active duty IDF soldiers killed. Almost no children.
It is not a competition in inhumanity. But yes, of course, there is a huge imbalance between the number of Israelis and Palestinians killed. Nevertheless, barbarism remains barbarism, and I am well aware that the Hamas attack has its roots in a long history of oppression.
I don’t think this brutal act of violence can be justified in any way. On the contrary, I think it was foreseeable how Israel would react – not with such disproportionate force, but the Hamas terrorists have once again accepted the suffering of their own people, as they have been doing for years. These people are no more freedom fighters than the Israeli government are decent human beings.
You would have said the same thing about the ANC fighting against apartheid.
I am aware that Israel has been keeping Palestine in a lawless state for decades with the help of the US – shamefully, also with the help of my own country, which brings me to tears. I am also aware of the past intifadas – and I know about their devastating consequences, namely mass murder by Israel. Nevertheless, I reject terrorism.