‘Hope she can swim’: Senator slams Greta Thunberg’s Gaza flotilla trip

Referring to the “Freedom Flotilla”  headed to Gaza, the South Caroline Senator wrote, “Hope Greta [Thunberg] and her friends can swim!”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

US Senator Lindsey Graham took to X to make a jab at activist Greta Thunberg’s journey on a flotilla in an attempt to break the Gaza blockade.

Referring to the “Freedom Flotilla,” the South Carolina Senator wrote, “Hope Greta [Thunberg] and her friends can swim!”

Graham’s post elicited anger from many quarters, with one X user commenting, “Why is a 69-year-old US senator joking about the drowning of a 22-year-old Swedish activist? Is this where American politics is now?”

In addition to Thunberg, Irish Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, as well as aid workers, activists, and documentarians, will also be on board the flotilla called Madleen.

The flotilla sails from Sicily to Gaza and is expected to take a week to arrive at its destination.

The Freedom Flotilla group tried to set out from Malta in May, but the trip was canceled allegedly due to a drone strike.

The group blamed Israel for the drone strike, which left its 30 people on board unharmed, although there was no evidence behind the allegation.

Before embarking, Thunberg gave a few remarks, “The moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide.”

Despite Thunberg’s accusations of “genocide” and the implication that Israel is attempting to “starve” the Gazan population with its blockade, a US-backed group, The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), working in coordination with Israel’s military reported it delivered 4.7 million meals to Gazans in six days.

The American private contractor noted that it seeks to further scale its operations throughout the Strip, with plans to build additional distribution sites in the north.

“The continued misinformation, mischaracterization, and unfortunately completely false reports by some major media outlets [are] very disheartening to our aid workers and their vital efforts to feed the hungry people of Gaza,” said John Acree, interim executive director of GHF.

“Every step we take is aimed at one outcome, which is getting food and essential supplies directly into the hands of those who need them most,” he added.