An aid vessel bound for Gaza and carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was intercepted by Israeli military forces on Sunday, just hours after Israeli officials warned the crew to abandon their mission.
The ship, Madleen, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, set sail from Sicily on June 1 with 12 international activists aboard, including Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham. The vessel was carrying humanitarian supplies such as baby formula, food, and medical aid intended for civilians in Gaza, where UN agencies have warned of an escalating humanitarian crisis and imminent risk of famine.
In a statement posted to Telegram, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israeli forces of unlawfully boarding the ship, “abducting” the activists, and seizing the cargo. The group said the vessel’s communications were disrupted during its voyage, allegedly due to signal jamming, and that the crew had anticipated reaching Gaza by Sunday.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a sharp rebuke of the mission ahead of the interception, calling Thunberg and the other participants “antisemitic” and accusing them of spreading “Hamas propaganda.”
“To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — you will not make it to Gaza,” Katz said. “Israel will act decisively against any attempt to break the blockade or support terrorist organizations.”
Thunberg, 22, has been outspoken about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and has previously criticized Israel’s military actions. She is currently banned from entering the country due to her views on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Shortly before the coalition’s announcement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry released video footage showing Israeli naval personnel using a loudspeaker to address the Madleen. “The waters off Gaza are under a legal naval blockade,” a navy officer can be heard saying. “If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, you may do so through the port of Ashdod.”
Despite this directive, the Freedom Flotilla maintains that their mission was peaceful and humanitarian in nature. In the aftermath of the interception, the group shared reports that the activists were forcibly detained, though an Israeli-released photo showed a soldier offering water to passengers aboard the British-flagged yacht.
The incident marks a renewed escalation in tensions over international efforts to bypass Israel’s blockade on Gaza. Just one month ago, another vessel affiliated with the coalition was reportedly attacked by drones near Malta. Though all 30 passengers were safely evacuated, the group blamed the assault on Israel — a claim that has not been officially acknowledged or denied.
This latest confrontation echoes the deadly 2010 Gaza flotilla raid, in which Israeli forces stormed the Mavi Marmara, resulting in the deaths of nine activists and injuries to many more. Israel claimed its forces acted in self-defense after being attacked with blunt weapons during the boarding.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has been organizing such missions for over a decade, asserting that international maritime aid efforts are a form of nonviolent resistance aimed at drawing attention to what they describe as a humanitarian blockade.
As of now, the status of the Madleen’s crew remains unclear, and international observers are closely watching for further developments.
