Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Ship, Detain Greta Thunberg & Crew

Activists in gaza aid ship — Screengrab from Instagram video posted by gazafreedomflotilla

Israeli military forces intercepted a British-flagged charity vessel named Madleen early Sunday morning, on June 8, 2025, in international waters while it was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The ship, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was boarded at around 3:02 a.m. CET at coordinates 31.95236° N, 32.38880° E. The vessel was carrying a small cargo of humanitarian items such as rice, baby formula, food, and medical supplies.

The FFC confirmed that the crew, consisting of 12 international volunteers, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan, were detained by Israeli forces and the cargo was confiscated.

FFC organiser and human rights lawyer Huwaida Arraf strongly condemned the interception. She said the mission was peaceful and intended to challenge what the group called Israel’s “illegal blockade” of Gaza.

The coalition also accused Israel of breaching international maritime law and defying a binding International Court of Justice (ICJ) order that called for unrestricted humanitarian access to the region.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed it had taken control of the Madleen, dismissing the mission as a “selfie yacht of celebrities.” It said the detainees were safe, provided with food and water, and would be deported to their respective countries. The ministry also stated that the seized cargo would be routed to Gaza through what it described as “real humanitarian channels.”

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Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who had ordered the operation, dismissed the voyage as a propaganda move supporting Hamas. He defended the ongoing naval blockade as essential to preventing weapons from entering Gaza and accused Thunberg and others of promoting pro-Hamas messaging. He made it clear that no ship would be allowed to break the blockade.

The Madleen had departed from Sicily on June 6 and was slowly moving toward Gaza when it was intercepted about 160 nautical miles from the coast. FFC spokesperson Hay Sha Wiya said the group had expected a possible confrontation but stated that the mission was peaceful and intended to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The coalition also referred to a previous incident involving their ship Conscience, which they say was struck by an Israeli drone weeks ago in European waters. That attack left four volunteers injured and the vessel badly damaged. The group said they were disappointed that the international community did nothing after the incident.

FFC organiser Tan Safi said the silence of world governments after the Conscience attack had only emboldened Israel. He warned that a lack of accountability would lead to more violations against civilians and aid workers.

After the Madleen incident, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition demanded the immediate release of all detained crew members, unimpeded delivery of aid, and accountability for attacks on both ships. The group vowed to continue its mission until the blockade on Gaza is lifted and Palestinians are free.

United Nations special rapporteur Francesca Albanese expressed support for the flotilla’s mission. She called on other Mediterranean ports to send their boats in solidarity, saying the Madleen’s seizure shouldn’t stop the global effort to deliver humanitarian aid.

The blockade on Gaza has been in place since 2007, following Hamas’s takeover of the region. Since the start of the ongoing war on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack that killed over 1,200 people in Israel, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been reported dead by Gaza’s health authorities. The United Nations continues to warn of an imminent famine affecting most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people.

In 2010, a similar attempt to break the blockade ended in bloodshed when Israeli commandos boarded the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, killing ten activists. The FFC said it will not be deterred and pledged to continue its efforts. “We will sail again,” the group stated.

References: freedomflotilla, Reuters

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