Israeli forces detained a Gaza-bound aid vessel carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 other international campaigners early Monday, halting what officials described as a publicity stunt and reiterating Israel's commitment to its naval blockade of the Hamas-controlled enclave.
The vessel, Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had departed from Sicily on a mission to raise global awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and deliver limited quantities of aid, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies. The group had publicly aimed to challenge the maritime blockade Israel has enforced for years and intensified during its ongoing war with Hamas.
The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed they intercepted the boat in restricted waters and redirected it to Israeli territory. "The show is over," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a post on X. It described the ship as a "selfie yacht" and claimed that passengers were "safe and unharmed," having been given sandwiches and water.
A video shared by the ministry showed a navy officer informing those aboard that the Gaza coastline was closed and instructing them to use established humanitarian aid routes instead. The ministry added that the aid-"less than a single truckload"-would be screened and redirected through formal channels.
Greta Thunberg e seus colegas tripulantes da Flotilha da Liberdade tiveram seu navio capturado por Israel. pic.twitter.com/wk4AFcxAoo — Piuigiron (@virais_video) June 9, 2025
Thunberg, 22, had recorded a message prior to the ship's seizure, urging supporters to pressure the Swedish government to seek her release. "I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible," she said.
Other participants included Rima Hassan, a French Member of the European Parliament of Palestinian descent who has been barred from entering Israel, and actor Liam Cunningham, known for his role in Game of Thrones.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of unlawfully boarding the vessel, stating: "The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo... confiscated."
The mission follows a failed attempt by the group last month to reach Gaza by sea. That effort ended after one of their ships was reportedly hit by drones in international waters near Malta. The coalition blamed Israel for the attack.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered that participants of the flotilla be shown video footage from the October 7 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
Israel's military campaign in response has resulted in over 54,000 deaths in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The figure does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties. The United Nations has warned that famine conditions are worsening as about 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced and aid remains severely restricted.
Israel began allowing limited humanitarian deliveries into Gaza last month following international pressure, but aid organizations say it falls far short of what's needed. The ongoing blockade, which began in 2007 when Hamas seized control of Gaza, remains a central point of contention in ceasefire negotiations, which have stalled for months.
