A humanitarian ship named Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others, was intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in international waters early Sunday. The group was on a mission to deliver essential supplies to civilians in Gaza.
According to videos shared by FFC, drones dropped an unidentified white chemical on the boat before Israeli forces reportedly rammed and boarded the vessel. “Moments ago, drones dropped unidentified chemicals on the Madleen… we lost all contact with them seconds later,” the group wrote on Instagram.
Footage Reveals Volunteers in Distress
CCTV footage shows volunteers seated inside the boat with life jackets on and their hands in the air. While no IDF soldiers are visible, a voice is heard instructing the passengers to throw their phones into the sea. The time stamp shows the incident occurred around 2 am local time.
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Thiago Avila, a Brazilian activist aboard the vessel, shared a video update saying, “We have just been attacked by a storm of drones here. They attacked humanitarian aid… They are right here above us.”
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Greta Thunberg Appeals for Release
In a final video before losing communication, Greta Thunberg appealed to the Swedish government, stating, “We have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces… 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.”
FFC maintained that Thunberg and the others were unarmed civilians carrying humanitarian supplies, including baby formula and medical aid, and were acting within the bounds of international law.
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Israel Responds: ‘Media Provocation’
The Israeli Foreign Ministry downplayed the incident, labeling the Madleen as a “selfie yacht” and accusing the volunteers of staging a publicity stunt. “There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip – they do not involve Instagram selfies,” it said, asserting the yacht carried “less than a single truckload of aid.”
In contrast, it highlighted that over 1,200 aid trucks had entered Gaza in the last two weeks and claimed 11 million meals had been distributed through official channels.
Defence Minister’s Statement Sparks Controversy
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed he had ordered the interception. Addressing Greta Thunberg directly, he remarked, “To the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-propaganda-spouting friends, I say clearly: You’d better turn back, because you will not reach Gaza.”
The current whereabouts of the volunteers and the condition of the vessel remain unclear. The FFC continues to demand the immediate release of those onboard and insists that their mission was peaceful and lawful.
