JERUSALEM, Israel — The Israeli military has intercepted a civilian aid vessel headed for Gaza, detaining Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and several other high-profile campaigners on board, according to multiple sources including Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).
The vessel, named Madleen, was attempting to breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza to deliver humanitarian supplies.
The ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s long-standing campaign against the blockade, was intercepted early on Monday, June 9, 2025, in what organisers described as international waters.
In a statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the vessel “is safely making its way to the shores of Israel,” and that the passengers — including Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament — “are expected to return to their home countries.”
The ministry also released a video showing the detained passengers seated on deck in life jackets, with Israeli personnel distributing bottled water and sandwiches.
Thunberg is visible at the front of the group.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition alleged that the Madleen came “under assault” and was “unlawfully boarded” in international waters.
In a Telegram post, the organisation claimed the ship was sprayed with a white paint-like substance and subjected to communication jamming and audio disruption.
In a livestream broadcast before communications were lost, activist Yasmin Acar showed a white residue on the deck, saying it was affecting her eyes.
In another pre-recorded message released after contact was severed, Thunberg said: “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 said the ship carried medical supplies, baby formula, and food — all of which, according to the group, were confiscated.
Israel later confirmed it would transfer the goods to Gaza through approved humanitarian channels.
Human rights lawyer and FFC organiser Huwaida Arraf condemned the operation: “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 has maintained a full naval blockade of Gaza and has insisted that all aid must pass through designated land crossings.
The government has labelled the flotilla a publicity stunt.
“There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies,” the Foreign Ministry said in an earlier statement.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday, June 8, 2025, that the Israeli military had been ordered to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza.
Following the interception, he instructed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to screen footage of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks to the activists upon their arrival at Ashdod Port.
The interception comes amid an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, now in its eleventh week of complete Israeli aid blockade.
Despite limited resumption of aid in late May under growing international pressure, the United Nations and humanitarian organisations report that deliveries fall far short of pre-war levels.
A UN-backed report in April warned that one in five people in Gaza were facing famine-level hunger.
Clashes have also intensified around new food distribution points managed by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which was formed to replace the UN-led system.
Dozens of Palestinians have reportedly been killed while attempting to access aid.
The UN has described the situation as a “death trap.”
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had previously attempted to reach Gaza via sea last month, claiming that another of its ships, the Conscience, came under drone attack near Malta.
The group alleged Israeli involvement, though no evidence was presented and Israel declined to comment.
The Madleen departed from Sicily on Friday, June 6, 2025, carrying its final group of international volunteers and supplies.
With its interception, the fate of future flotilla missions remains uncertain, as diplomatic tensions continue to rise over Israel’s blockade and the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
