Greta Thunberg’s ‘Freedom Flotilla’ boarded and seized by Israeli forces as she says she’s been ‘kidnapped’

9 June 2025, 07:53 | Updated: 9 June 2025, 15:16

Israel has put an end to Greta Thunberg's efforts to bring aid to Gaza on a ship she called the "Freedom Flotilla."

Israel branded the vessel the "selfie yacht". It carried 12 activists on board with the aim of delivering aid to Gaza.

As troops intercepted it, Israel said the 'tiny amount of aid' on board would be 'transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels'.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said those on board would be deported.

"The passengers are expected to return to their home countries," the government department wrote in a statement shared on X. 

But Israel said that before being released, the group will be forced to watch a 43-minute film showing the atrocities committed by Hamas in the October 7 massacre.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which had organised the voyage, said the activists were “kidnapped by Israeli forces” while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory.“

"The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo – including baby formula, food and medical supplies – confiscated,” it said in a statement.

A “white irritant substance” was dropped on the boat prior to the ship being boarded, the group said.

The liquid was dropped from a drone at around 2am BST, according to the FFC. It is not clear what the liquid was.

The group said “Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white irritant substance.”

Israel released footage of military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: "While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza."

"There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies.

"The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the “celebrities” will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels," officials added.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – America’s largest Muslim civil rights organisation – has called it a “blatant act of international piracy.”

“We applaud Greta Thunberg and the other activists of the Madleen who bravely risked their safety and freedom to help the starving people of Gaza,” CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad said.

Thunberg, 22, said in a social media video yesterday: "If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel.

"I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible."

Israels foreign minister said last night that Thunberg's 'selfie yacht of celebrities' was 'safely making its way to the shores of Israel' where the 12 people on board would be deported.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) wrote: "The FFC confirms that its civilian ship, Madleen, carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, has been attacked/forcibly intercepted by the Israeli military at 3:02 am CET in international waters. 

"The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated."

The ship was trying to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip in an effort to bring in some aid and raise "international awareness" of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and open up an aid corridor to the region, the activists said at a press conference.

Defence minister Israel Katz said: "Antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-supporting friends should see exactly what the Hamas terrorist organisation - which they came to support and act on behalf of - truly is," he said.

"They should see the atrocities committed against women, the elderly, and children, and understand whom Israel is fighting to defend itself."

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A post shared by Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@gazafreedomflotilla)

The coalition previously posted a voice memo on its Telegram account of Thiago Avila, one of the activists onboard, saying: "We have been surrounded by many lights all at once; they were circling our boat but in the end they kept going their own way."

Israel's defence minister took to Twitter on Sunday to confirm he has instructed the Israeli Defence Force to “take whatever measures necessary” to stop the Madeleine reaching the Gaza Strip.

Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, who is of Palestinian descent, is also on the aid ship.

She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israel's policies towards Palestinians.

Ms Hassan wrote on X as the yacht was allegedly surrounded: "The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2am."

Defence minister Katz said: "I commend the IDF for its swift and safe takeover" of the vessel, and said the Israeli military "will continue its just and moral fight against the Hamas murderers until their defeat, the release of all hostages, and the full restoration of Israel's security".

Read More: Body of Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar identified in tunnel beneath Gaza hospital, Israel says

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It comes amid the backdrop of an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with at least 53,000 people killed in Israeli attacks, and hundreds of thousands more at risk of starvation, according to the United Nations.

Taking to X on Sunday, Katz wrote: “I have instructed the IDF to act to prevent the "Madeleine" hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza - and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end.

“To the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propaganda spokespeople, I say clearly: ‘You should turn back - because you will not reach Gaza.’

“Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organizations – at sea, in the air, and on land.”

In an impassioned speech ahead of her departure, Ms Thunberg said: "We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying.

"Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it's not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide."

Israel denies allegations of Genocide, a claim which has been judged "plausible" by the International Criminal Court.

In mid-May, Israel slightly eased its blockade of Gaza after nearly three months, allowing a limited amount of humanitarian aid into the territory.

Experts have warned that Gaza is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in.

UN agencies and major aid groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza's roughly two million Palestinians.

Among those joining the crew of the ship are Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent.

She has been barred from entering Israel due to her active opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza.