Greta Thunberg and a group of activists who were sailing to Gaza to deliver aid have been detained by Israeli authorities after being warned not to approach the enclave.
Reports emerged that Israeli forces had intercepted and boarded the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s yacht, the Madleen, early on Monday morning.
Not long afterwards the crew, which includes the Swedish activist, released pre-recorded videos calling for support.
The coalition also released footage which appeared to show the moment the ship was located and boarded.
“The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated,” the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement.
The Madleen set sail from Sicily nine days ago with the goal of delivering a symbolic shipment of aid to Gaza and raising awareness of the humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Greta Thunberg was detained on board the ship. (Israel Foreign Ministry/X)
Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which said the crew members were safe and on their way to Israel, described the ship as “the ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities'”.
The Israeli navy had earlier instructed the Madleen to change its course as it approached a restricted area.
The yacht is carrying a small shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula, all of which will be taken to Gaza, the foreign ministry said.
“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.”
Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.
The blockade, which the Israeli government said was essential to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas, has remained in place through multiple conflicts.
The boat was expected to arrive at the Israeli port of Ashdod later on Monday.
Footage of boarding release
After the boat was intercepted, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition released a video of Israeli forces boarding the Madleen.
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It shows the crew of the yacht, who are wearing orange life jackets, gathered in a small sitting area.
As the footage begins a woman can be heard yelling: “Guys, oh my God,” while a man appears to tell people to “ditch the phone” and “phones in the water please”.
Spotlights sweep across the inside of Madleen as the crew sit and raise their hands above their head.
“Assume your positions,” a man tells the crew.
He then seems to make a call on his phone.
“We are being boarded right now, we are being intercepted right now,” he says.
“Everyone here is safe … it’s very important that you know no one is wounded until the time they boarded our boat.
“Please raise the alarm.”
As the roughly four-minute video ends, another vessel appears in the left of frame and people wearing what appears to be khaki military outfits can be seen boarding the Madleen behind the seated crew.
“Calm down everyone, calm down, everything is going to be alright,” a man in the crew says.
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The 12 people aboard the Madleen seemed to be prepared for this to happen.
Ms Thunberg, a Swedish citizen, posted a message urging people to pressure the Swedish government to do what it could to secure the release of the Freedom Flotilla crew.
“If you see this video we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters,” she said.
In another pre-recorded message, Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila called for support for him and the other members of the flotilla who have been detained.
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Freedom Flotilla organiser Huwaida Arraf said Israel did not have any authority to detain the volunteers who were aboard the ship.
“Their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately,” she said.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the ship was safely making its way to the shores of Israel and those aboard were expected to be returned to their home countries.
“They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over,”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said.
When the detained crew reached the port of Ashdod, the IDF had been instructed to show them a video depicting “the horrors of the October 7 massacre”, Mr Katz said.
Boat was warned to ‘turn back’: Israeli defence minister
As the ship travelled through the Mediterranean Sea, off the Egyptian coast, Mr Katz said he warned it not to travel closer to Gaza.
“I have instructed the IDF to act to prevent the Madleen hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza, and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end,” Mr Katz posted on social media platform X, along with a photo flanked by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials.
“To the antisemitic Greta [Thunberg] 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 organisations — at sea, in the air, and on land.”
The Madleen set sail from a port in Sicily about two weeks ago. (Reuters: Danilo Arnone)
In reply, Ms Thunberg, who has rejected accusations she is antisemitic, said the mission was “not about us nor the boat”.
“This is about the genocide, blockade and systematic oppression of Palestinians,” she posted on Instagram.
“People in Gaza don’t need anyone to come and save them, they need us to amplify and support their struggle for justice, that we end our complicity, put pressure and cut ties with those committing human rights violations. Keep all eyes on deck but above all, all eyes on Palestine and all oppressed people.”
Israel has repeatedly rejected allegations of war crimes, including genocide, in its conduct relating to the war in Gaza.
The IDF has insisted it has been letting aid into the strip
It said 350 trucks carrying critical supplies were allowed to enter last week.
ABC/Reuters
Greta Thunberg detained as IDF boards Freedom Flotilla ship bound for Gaza
