Sky News has been inundated with 1,270 complaints to Ofcom following a contentious comment made by a presenter during coverage of a humanitarian aid ship headed to Gaza.
The incident unfolded on the June 7 edition of Today with Samantha Washington, which featured a segment on the Madleen vessel. The ship, carrying aid supplies, was intercepted by Israeli forces before reaching Gaza. Notably, activist Greta Thunberg, who was aboard, described the interception as a form of “kidnapping” and called on the Swedish government to intervene.
During the broadcast, presenter Samantha Washington told activist Thiago Avila, “What you’re actually carrying is really a drop in the ocean to what people in Gaza need, so really it’s a symbolic mission rather than a humanitarian one.” Thiago Avila countered, emphasizing that the expedition was indeed a humanitarian effort with aspirations to grow larger.
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The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), organizers of the voyage, confirmed the yacht was stocked with humanitarian aid and described the interception 160 nautical miles from Gaza as a forced seizure by Israeli authorities.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, condemned the mission strongly, labeling it a “hate flotilla” and directing the Israeli Defense Forces to prevent the ship from reaching Gaza by any means necessary. Katz also accused the crew of being “anti-Semitic” and warned activist Greta Thunberg and her supporters to turn back.
In response, Greta Thunberg called for international pressure on the Swedish government to secure the release of all those aboard. Meanwhile, the Palestinian defence ministry praised the activists’ efforts as “noble” and expressed solidarity with their attempt to break the blockade on Gaza.
The wave of complaints to Ofcom from Sky News viewers reflects strong public sentiment regarding the presenter’s critical remarks on the ship’s mission, underscoring the sensitivity surrounding aid efforts and geopolitics in the region.