Greta Thunberg’s attempt to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza ended in drama at sea after Israeli forces intercepted the vessel carrying the 22-year-old climate activist and 11 others.
The interception, which occurred in international waters, has sparked a fiery war of words between the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Israeli authorities, with both sides accusing the other of provocation and misconduct.
Dubbed the ‘selfie yacht’ by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the vessel Madleen had set sail from Sicily loaded with what the group said were critical humanitarian supplies for Palestinians in Gaza, as reported by The Daily Mail. Onboard were high-profile figures, including Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and French MEP Rima Hassan, joining Thunberg in what they described as a peaceful mission to raise awareness and deliver aid.
But Israel saw it differently.
The Israeli government called the voyage a ‘publicity stunt’, claiming that the amount of aid on board wasn’t even enough to fill a single truck. ‘This was never about humanitarian support,’ an MFA statement read, ‘this was a photo op, an Instagram campaign masquerading as activism.’ Officials further emphasised that over 1 200 aid trucks had entered Gaza through established routes in the past two weeks, making the yacht’s contribution negligible by comparison.
Thunberg posted a pre-recorded Instagram message shortly before being intercepted, accusing Israeli forces of ‘kidnapping’ her in international waters and urging the Swedish government to intervene. Israel countered swiftly, releasing a photo of the activist accepting bread from an Israeli soldier, saying she was ‘safe and in good spirits’.
Yet others onboard reported a more hostile encounter. Brazilian activist Thiago Avila described drones buzzing overhead and claimed the crew was sprayed with an unknown substance. ‘Please sound the alarm,’ he was heard saying in a video, ‘we are surrounded by Israeli drones, the same ones that bombed our boats one month ago.’
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition released a statement condemning what it called an ‘unlawful assault’ and accusing Israel of forcibly abducting the ship’s unarmed passengers and seizing life-saving supplies like baby formula, medicine, and food. ‘This was a civilian vessel in international waters, and Israel’s actions amount to piracy,’ the group argued.
Greta Thunberg is currently on her way to Israel, safe and in good spirits. pic.twitter.com/pjWSr0lOsE
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025
Yasemin Acar, a fellow passenger, said the group had expected potential confrontation but were still shocked by the response. ‘This was a humanitarian mission, nothing more. The real threat is the ongoing starvation and bombing of Gaza, not a boat with bandages and rice.’
Israel remained firm in its stance. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had already warned days before that the IDF would not allow the flotilla to reach Gaza, labelling Thunberg ‘an antisemitic mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda’. He ordered commandos from the elite Shayetet 13 unit to prepare for a boarding operation, noting the vessel’s low-speed sailboat status made interception straightforward.
Israel justified the blockade on the grounds that Hamas has previously exploited sea routes to smuggle weapons, most notably in attacks tied to the October 7th massacre. ‘Let’s be clear,’ Gallant said, ‘This is not a cruise for peace. This is a dangerous provocation.’
Despite the interception, Freedom Flotilla members remain defiant. ‘We will not be silenced,’ Acar said in an Instagram video. ‘If our governments had done their jobs and held Israel accountable, we wouldn’t need to be here risking our lives.’
Thunberg’s presence, already controversial due to her outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, ignited a global media frenzy. Her involvement has drawn mixed reactions online, with some praising her courage and others accusing her of political grandstanding.
Israel has confirmed the yacht’s passengers will be deported and the small cargo will be redirected to Gaza via standard humanitarian channels.
Meanwhile, international observers and rights groups are watching closely, with some calling for investigations into the legality of the interception.
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Picture: Thomas Lohnes / Gallo Images
