The Voice News: Israel has intercepted an aid ship bound for Gaza, detaining prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg and other members of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) onboard. The vessel, named the Madleen, was reportedly attempting to deliver food, medical supplies, and baby formula to the war-torn enclave, which has been under a complete Israeli blockade for 11 weeks.
The Israeli military intercepted the ship in international waters, according to the FFC, which described the act as an “unlawful assault.” The organization claimed Israeli forces used drones to spray the vessel with a white substance, jammed communications, and broadcast disturbing audio over the radio. Videos posted by activists showed the mysterious white material on the deck, with some reporting eye irritation.
Thunberg, along with French European Parliament member Rima Hassan, was among the international activists aboard. In a pre-recorded video released by the FFC after communication was lost, Thunberg said:
“If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupation forces, or forces allied with them.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the interception, stating the ship was en route to Israeli shores and that the activists would be deported swiftly via Ashdod port and Ben-Gurion Airport. The ministry also released footage of the detained activists—wearing life jackets, receiving bottled water and sandwiches, and seated calmly under the watch of Israeli personnel. Thunberg appeared in the video wearing a green cap near the front of the group.
The Israeli government labeled the flotilla a “media stunt,” describing the Madleen as a “selfie yacht” full of “celebrities.” Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed he had ordered the military to stop the vessel from reaching Gaza and later stated he instructed the IDF to show activists footage of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks upon their arrival.
In contrast, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of violating international law and the International Court of Justice’s binding orders that call for unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. “Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen,” said human rights attorney Huwaida Arraf, one of the flotilla’s organizers.
France’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that six French nationals were among those detained and said it is working with Israeli authorities to secure their return. President Emmanuel Macron has personally requested swift arrangements for their repatriation. The French government had earlier advised against the mission due to safety concerns, but now urges Israel to allow “immediate and large-scale humanitarian access” to Gaza.
Meanwhile, Hamas condemned the interception as a “flagrant violation of international law” and demanded the activists’ immediate release.
As the Madleen approached the Israeli port of Ashdod, a small protest was held nearby, with demonstrators calling for the release of the detainees and carrying signs that read: “Resist genocide,” “Stop state terror,” and “Release the Madleen activists now.”
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is an activist group that has long challenged Israel’s blockade of Gaza by attempting to break the siege through sea routes. The Madleen, a UK-flagged civilian vessel, had departed from Sicily last Friday and publicized its location via an online tracker—until the feed suddenly went dark Monday morning as the ship neared Gaza’s coastline.
In May, another FFC ship, the Conscience, was reportedly attacked by a drone off Malta’s coast. Although organizers suspected Israeli involvement, no concrete evidence was provided, and the Israeli military declined to comment.
The current mission aimed to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 2.1 million people face severe shortages of food and medical supplies. According to the UN, the entire population is at risk of famine due to the blockade. A new US-backed distribution initiative, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has been criticized after dozens of Palestinians were killed while attempting to access aid, prompting warnings from humanitarian agencies that the system has turned into a “death trap.”
Despite limited aid trickling in since late May, NGOs report it is far below pre-war levels. A UN-backed assessment from April warned that one in five people in Gaza is facing starvation.