Trending 
The Israeli military has intercepted the Gaza-bound aid ship “Madleen,” carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and other prominent figures, detaining all onboard and transporting them to Israel.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which organised the voyage, immediately condemned the action, alleging the vessel was “attacked” and “unlawfully boarded” in international waters.
The “Madleen” was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, where over 600 days of conflict and an 11-week Israeli aid blockade have plunged the enclave’s 2.1 million people into a severe hunger crisis.
Among those detained on the “Madleen” are Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted on X early Monday, stating the vessel “is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.”
According to a source familiar with the matter, the activists are to be brought to Ashdod port for a “quick deportation process” via Ben-Gurion Airport, with an expected arrival in Ashdod on Monday evening.
The Foreign Ministry also shared a video showing “Madleen” crew members wearing orange life jackets and being offered water and sandwiches by a soldier, with Thunberg visible near the front.
The FFC had earlier reported via Telegram that the ship came “under assault in international waters,” claiming, “Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white paint-like substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio.”
A video livestreamed by activist Yasemin Acar showed a white substance on deck, which she said was affecting her eyes.
The FFC also posted footage of crew members with their hands raised inside the boat. After losing communication, the FFC released pre-recorded video messages, including one from Thunberg stating, “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel.”
The FFC asserted that Israel acted with “total impunity” and that the vessel’s cargo, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies, was “confiscated.”
Human rights attorney and Freedom Flotilla organiser, Huwaida Arraf, declared, “Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen. This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the International Court of Justice’s binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.”
Israel confirmed it would transfer the goods to Gaza through humanitarian channels.
Israel had consistently vowed to prevent the aid boat from reaching Gaza, labelling the ship a “selfie yacht” carrying “celebrities.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday, “I have instructed the IDF to ensure that the ‘Madleen’ flotilla does not reach Gaza.”
After the detentions, Katz posted on X that he had instructed the military to screen videos of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks for the activists upon their arrival at Ashdod Port.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry maintained the group “attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity,” adding, “There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip—they do not involve Instagram selfies.”
The ministry further stated that “unauthorised attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.”
The French Foreign Ministry confirmed six French nationals were on board the “Madleen,” stating they are in contact with Israeli authorities for their return, having previously warned activists of the “risks involved.”
French President Emmanuel Macron “has requested that arrangements be made, as quickly as possible, for the return” of its nationals, an Élysée source told CNN.
The ministry also urged Israel to allow “immediate, large-scale, and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
Hamas condemned the interception and detention, calling it “a flagrant violation of international law and an attack on civilian volunteers acting out of humanitarian motives.”
In Ashdod, approximately 15 activists protested the ship’s seizure, carrying signs demanding the release of “Madleen” activists and an end to “genocide” and “state terror.”
The “Madleen,” a UK-flagged civilian vessel, is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an organisation dedicated to challenging Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
The crew had publicly tracked the ship’s location, preparing for potential interception. Thunberg had told CNN on Saturday, “We know that it’s a very risky mission, and we know that previous experiences with flotillas like this have resulted in attacks, violence, and even cases of death.”
Israel imposed a full humanitarian blockade on Gaza on March 2, cutting off vital supplies for 11 weeks. While a trickle of aid has been allowed since late May, humanitarian organisations warn it’s insufficient, highlighting a worsening crisis and risk of widespread famine.
A UN-backed report in late April warned that one in five people were facing starvation. Recent attempts by Palestinians to obtain aid from a new US-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), have tragically resulted in dozens of deaths, with the UN labelling the new mechanism a “death trap.”
Last month, another FFC vessel, the “Conscience,” reportedly came under an alleged drone attack off Malta, though evidence of Israeli involvement was not provided, and the Israeli military declined comment.
The intercepted “Madleen” had departed Sicily last Friday.
