Israeli naval forces intercepted an international aid vessel attempting to breach the Gaza blockade on Monday, detaining prominent Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg along with fellow campaigners. The activists, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had embarked from Sicily a week earlier to protest Israel’s ongoing military offensive and humanitarian restrictions in Gaza, where UN agencies warn approximately 2 million Palestinians are facing famine conditions.
The confrontation occurred when Israeli commandos boarded the vessel Madleen in international waters, confiscating its cargo of infant formula, food supplies, and medical aid. Flotilla organisers condemned the interception as an “illegal kidnapping” of unarmed civilians, while Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the mission as a “celebrity publicity stunt,” asserting that all activists would be deported and humanitarian supplies rerouted through official channels. Among the twelve detained activists were Thunberg and French-Palestinian EU parliamentarian Rima Hassan, who remains barred from Israel due to her criticism of Israeli policies.
This incident marks the coalition’s second failed attempt to reach Gaza since May, when drones reportedly struck another aid ship near Malta in international waters. Israel, maintaining a joint blockade with Egypt since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, defends the restrictions as necessary to prevent arms smuggling. Critics, however, characterise the blockade as collective punishment against Gaza’s civilian population.
The current conflict has resulted in what Gaza health officials report as over 54,000 Palestinian deaths. With 90% of Gaza’s population displaced and dependent on international aid, ceasefire negotiations remain stalled. Hamas insists on a permanent truce and Israeli withdrawal in exchange for remaining hostages, while Israel vows to continue military operations until Hamas is dismantled.
The detained activists, including Thunberg who had earlier rescued four migrants fleeing Libyan coast guards during the voyage, were shown in circulated footage receiving food and water from Israeli forces. In a prerecorded message released post-interception, Thunberg urged pressure on the Swedish government to secure their release.