Israel intercepts Gaza-bound aid ship, detaining Greta Thunberg and other prominent activists

Israeli forces have intercepted a civilian aid ship attempting to reach Gaza, detaining all passengers on board, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan.

The ship, named the Madleen, is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC). It was carrying humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip, which has endured over 600 days of war and an 11-week Israeli blockade. The mission aimed to deliver food, baby formula, and medical supplies to the region.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the interception early Monday. A video posted online showed passengers in orange life jackets receiving water and sandwiches from Israeli soldiers. Thunberg appeared seated near the front of the group.

The ministry stated that the Madleen was redirected to Israel and that the passengers would return to their home countries. “The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza was closed,” a naval officer announced over the radio, according to a video released by Israel.

The FFC, however, claimed the ship was “unlawfully boarded” in international waters. In a Telegram post, the group accused Israeli forces of using drones to spray a white paint-like substance on the vessel. Activist Yasemin Acar, livestreaming from the ship, reported irritation in her eyes after exposure.

“We have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters,” Thunberg said in a pre-recorded video released by the FFC. The group shared footage of crew members seated with their hands raised as Israeli forces boarded.

Huwaida Arraf, a human rights attorney and FFC organizer, condemned the seizure. “Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen,” she said. Arraf called the operation a “blatant violation of international law.”

The ship’s cargo has been confiscated, though Israeli officials said it would be transferred to Gaza via established humanitarian channels. Critics, including the United Nations, have said such aid is insufficient. In April, a UN-backed report warned that one in five people in Gaza were facing starvation.

The French Foreign Ministry confirmed six French nationals were on board. France had warned them about the risks prior to departure. President Emmanuel Macron has called for their immediate return.

Israel’s government has stood firm. “I have instructed the IDF to ensure the Madleen flotilla does not reach Gaza,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said. He later ordered military personnel to show the activists video footage of the October 7 Hamas attacks upon their arrival in Ashdod.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry labeled the aid mission a “media provocation.” It posted online, “There are ways to deliver aid… they do not involve Instagram selfies.”

Protests erupted in Ashdod following the ship’s seizure. Around 15 demonstrators carried signs reading, “resist genocide,” and “release the Madleen activists now.” One protester said the group wanted to show support for the detained activists. A passerby interrupted, shouting in Hebrew, “You’re living in Israel,” and called the demonstrators “hooligans.”

The Madleen is the latest vessel from the FFC to attempt to breach Israel’s blockade. A previous ship, the Conscience, was reportedly attacked by a drone in international waters last month, though Israel has not confirmed the incident.

Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza on March 2, cutting off all aid for 11 weeks. The blockade came as the war escalated, leaving over 2.1 million people in Gaza with little food or medical care. In late May, Israel began allowing limited aid shipments, though humanitarian organizations said it was “nowhere near enough.”

Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in recent days while trying to access aid delivered by a new U.S.-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The UN has warned the new distribution system is becoming a “death trap.”

Hamas called for the activists’ release and condemned their detention as a “flagrant violation of international law.” The group described the Madleen's seizure as an attack on civilian volunteers acting from humanitarian motives.

Despite rising international criticism, Israeli officials maintain that any unauthorized entry into Gaza is “dangerous, unlawful, and undermines ongoing humanitarian efforts.”

The Madleen had publicized its location with an online tracker and departed Sicily last Friday. The crew had prepared for potential confrontation. “We know it’s risky,” Thunberg told CNN before the trip. “But Gaza needs aid now.”