Ashdod, Israel — June 9, 2025
Israeli forces have intercepted a yacht carrying a group of international activists—including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and a French lawmaker—as it attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The vessel, named Madleen, was part of a mission organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the yacht carried "less than a single truckload" of humanitarian supplies, dismissing the mission as a publicity stunt and calling it a “selfie yacht.” The boat, which had 12 passengers aboard, including six core activists, was intercepted in international waters before being redirected toward the Israeli port city of Ashdod.
Thunberg, 22, known for her outspoken climate activism, claimed in a social media post that the group had been “kidnapped in international waters,” sparking immediate international attention. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has called for the activists' protection, while a UN official urged for more humanitarian flotillas to be allowed safe passage to Gaza.
Tense Moments Captured on Camera
Footage released by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition shows the moment Madleen was intercepted. In the video, bright lights and high-pitched sirens fill the air as activists raise their hands in the air. A voice, believed to be Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, is heard urging the crew to "ditch your phones" and “assume positions,” with several devices—including a laptop—hurled overboard in apparent anticipation of seizure.
“We are being boarded now… no one is wounded,” Ávila can be heard saying in a phone call, as the crew remains calm and cooperative. Another voice on board states: “If anything happens to us, this is a war crime.”
The video, lasting nearly four minutes, ends shortly after Israeli personnel board the vessel. It remains unclear whether the transmission was cut or if only a partial clip was shared.
Conflicting Narratives
Israeli officials maintain that the interception was lawful and necessary to prevent unauthorized access to Gaza, which remains under an Israeli naval blockade imposed since 2007. Authorities emphasized that the activists had ignored offers to deliver the aid through official humanitarian channels.
Meanwhile, supporters of the flotilla argue that the mission was symbolic—aimed at drawing global attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and challenging the legitimacy of the blockade.
The vessel has not yet docked in Ashdod, despite earlier local media reports, and Israeli officials say it is still en route.
A Global Spotlight
Thunberg’s presence on the Madleen has amplified the incident's global profile. While critics accuse the activists of grandstanding, supporters see the interception as a violation of peaceful protest and international maritime law.
International organizations, including several human rights groups, have expressed concern over the safety and treatment of those aboard. Calls for an independent investigation into the incident are already emerging from within the EU and parts of the United Nations.
As the boat makes its way toward Israeli custody, global attention remains fixed on the fate of the Madleen’s passengers—and on the broader questions surrounding the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
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