
'Intercepted and kidnapped' - Israeli forces stop boat carrying Greta Thunberg
Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board early on Monday, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas.
The activists had set out to protest against Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of some two million Palestinians at risk of famine.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, 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.
Israel's Foreign Ministry cast the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in a post on X that 'the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel'.
It said the passengers would return to their home countries and the aid would be delivered to Gaza through established channels.
The boat was expected to arrive at the Israeli port of Ashdod later on Monday. It later circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests.
Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily a week ago. Along the way, it had stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard.
'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,' Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was halted.
Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.
After a two-and-a-half-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers and experts have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive.
An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship.
Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's Palestinian population.
Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, but later relented under US pressure.
In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine.
Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead.
Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It does not say whether those killed are civilians or combatants.
The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid. Efforts to broker another truce have been deadlocked for months.
Hamas says it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the captives are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and exiled.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Meet London-based ‘Hamas operative' behind Greta Thunberg's ‘Freedom Flotilla' stunt that was foiled by Israel
A MAN accused in parliament of being a Hamas operative based in London was one of the organisers of Greta Thunberg's "Freedom Flotilla", it has emerged. Zaher Birawi, who has been photographed with slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, was present at the launch of the British-flagged yacht Madleen. 7 Zaher Al-Birawi, who is close to the Hamas leadership, speaks at anti-Israel protest in London 7 Mr Birawi pictured with Ismael Haniyeh, the former Hamas Leader, in 2012 Credit: Courtesy of Ministry of Strategic Affairs 7 Greta Thunberg is offered a sandwich by an Israeli soldier Credit: Alamy Live News 7 A photo posted on Telegram purportedly showing activists with their hands up on board the Madleen Credit: Freedom Flotilla Coalition As a Palestinian-British journalist, Mr Birawi is chair of the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza. He also runs a UK-registered charity called Education Aid for Palestinians, which has raised more than £3 million since 2017. Just a week ago, Mr Birawi was present at the launch of Madleen and live-streamed the event from a dock in Sicily. He called himself the 'founding member' of the Freedom Flotilla International Coalition - which arranged Madleen's voyage to Gaza. The 'selfie yacht' has now been seized by Israel, and all the people onboard have been detained. Labour MP Christian Wakeford named Mr Birawi in the Commons using special parliamentary protections that protect him from being sued. Mr Birawi said Mr Wakeford's claim was 'baseless' and that he was looking at 'all available legal recourse' in response to the MP's comments. According to Israel's strategic affairs ministry, Mr Birawi moved to the UK in the 1990s, has 'close ties to Hamas' and worked for several pro-Palestinian NGOs - including one tied to Hamas. Most read in The Sun In 2023, The Sun on Sunday revealed Mr Birawi lived in a £500,000 semi-detached house in leafy north London. MP for Bury South Mr Wakeford raised concerns over a 'serious national security risk' from 'Hamas operatives'. Israel issues warning to Greta's 'Freedom Flotilla' as eco-pest SAILS to Gaza He told the Commons: '[Mr Birawi] was designated by Israel in 2013 as a senior Hamas operative in Europe. 'He is listed as a trustee of a UK-registered charity Education Aid for Palestinians, and a publicly available video shows him hosting a 2019 event in London titled 'Understanding Hamas'. 'Two weeks ago, Hamas launched the deadly terrorist attack the world has seen since 9/11. 'This House rightly voted to proscribe Hamas in its entirety in November 2021. It is therefore a serious national security risk for Hamas operatives to be living here in London." There is no suggestion that Mr Birawi was involved in the deadly October 7 terror attacks. He said: 'I have been made aware of the fact that the Member of Parliament for Bury South, Christian Wakefield, made a reference to my name in the proceedings of the House of Commons on October 26. 'Regrettably, this mention appears to have been motivated by an intent to besmirch my character and, potentially, to rationalise any harm that may befall me or my family. 'In a time when we should all exercise vigilance and contemplate the potential consequences of our words, particularly their capacity to incite violence and animosity, Mr Wakefield chose a contrary course of action. 'I wish to reaffirm that what the respected MP said about the accusation is baseless and that it is part of the distortion attempts undertaken by the occupying state to prevent activists supporting Palestinian rights from carrying out their duties in supporting the Palestinian human rights.' 7 Greta Thunberg is one of the 12 people aboard the vessel 7 The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says it is carrying essential supplies to the Gazan population Credit: Getty 7 Thunberg with part of the crew of the ship headed to the Strip Credit: Getty Hamas has been proscribed as a terror group in the UK under the Terrorism Act 2000 since 2021. Swedish eco warrior Greta, ten other activists and a journalist were on the Madleen when it left the Italian isle of Sicily last week. Israel accused the Freedom Flotilla Coalition of supporting Hamas terrorists. The 'selfie yacht' operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition was said to be "safely making its way to the shores of Israel", Israel's Foreign Minsitry said. All passengers were safe and unharmed and activists handed out sandwiches and water before the vessel docked at the southern Israeli port of Ashdod. The boat was carrying a "tiny amount of aid" on board - which will be sent to Gaza. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said that he has instructed the Israeli Defence Forces to screen footage of the 7 October attacks as soon as they arrive. Who is on board the "Freedom Flotilla"? Greta Thunberg - Swedish climate activist Rima Hassan – French-Palestinian MEP Yasemin Acar – German activist Thiago Avila – Brazilian activist Omar Faiad – French journalist Pascal Maurieras – French activist Yanis Mhamdi – French reporter Suayb Ordu – Turkish activist Sergio Toribio – Spanish activist Marco van Rennes – Dutch activist Reva Viard – French activist Liam Cunningham - Irish Game of Thrones actor Baptiste Andre - French Physician The disturbing footage - titled "Bearing Witness" - shows innocent people being massacred and mutilated. And all the footage was taken from the Hamas terrorists' bodycams as they filmed their massacre. Hamas branded the interception of the yacht as a "crime of piracy". Read more on the Irish Sun The group said in a statement that activists were on a "humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip and exposing the crime of mass starvation." It added that Israel's action was "organised state terrorism, a clear violation of international law, and an attack on civilian volunteers motivated by humanitarian motives."


Irish Independent
31 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Opposition requests ‘vote of conscience' in calls to stop Central Bank's role in sale of Israeli Bonds
The Central Bank of Ireland is the designated authority in relation to the sale of Israel Bonds in the EU. Israel Bonds have been advertised as supporting the country's economy, and more recently, websites promoting the securities emphasise their role in supporting Israel's military operations in Gaza. The Central Bank is responsible for assessing whether a prospectus for the offer of securities is in compliance with requirements of the EU Prospectus Regulation, with the authority saying approval should not be viewed as "an endorsement of the issuer". Protesters have demonstrated outside the Central Bank and called for legislation that would give Ireland the power to refuse the sale of Israeli "war bonds" over human rights concerns. Last month, a Sinn Féin bill which would have imposed restrictions securities on behalf of Israel was defeated after the Government voted against the draft legislation. On Wednesday, the Dail will vote on a motion on the matter brought by a number of opposition parties during the Social Democrats' time. The motion says the bonds are intended to fund the war in Gaza and argues Ireland has an obligations under the Genocide Convention to use all means likely to have a deterrent effect on those suspected of preparing genocide. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney said: "We have failed as an international community to prevent a genocide from happening so now we have to do everything in our power to make sure that we stop it." She added: "We are urging the Government to allow a free vote, a vote of conscience, because we believe that this is something that many TDs will support if given the opportunity. "And we absolutely urge the government to support this motion." Sinn Féin TD Sean Crowe said he believes the gap between the vote on the Sinn Féin Bill and this motion will given TDs "time to reflect". Meanwhile, Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris called on Israel to lift a blockade on aid into Gaza. It comes after Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained activists on board early on Monday, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory. Mr Harris said the vessel was an "unarmed civilian effort" to get food and medicine to the "starving people of Gaza" in the midst of "devastation and catastrophic humanitarian conditions". He added: "The UN and humanitarian organisations must be allowed to work independently and do their job. "It is a shame on the world and international community that people are starving in Gaza.


Irish Times
43 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Harvard in talks with universities to host students hit by Trump visa clampdown
Harvard has been in talks with leading US and international universities to temporarily house its foreign students facing bans under US president Donald Trump 's clampdown on the college. Leaders from the University of Chicago and the London Business School are among those who have held discussions on accommodating students accepted for the coming academic year at Harvard, but who are now at risk of being denied visas, according to academics at the institutions. Other US universities are examining ways to help their own current and incoming foreign students, including relocating them to campuses outside the country. The Trump administration has banned Harvard from accepting foreign students as part of its broader campaign against what it claims is liberal bias and anti-Semitism on American campuses. A judge temporarily froze the order last week, delaying Mr Trump's actions. READ MORE The administration has suspended the review of all visa applications from prospective students seeking to study anywhere in the country as it steps up background checks, including going through social media. It has also revoked visas and detained foreign students who it claims have been involved in protests, mainly against Israel over its war with Hamas in Gaza. The campaign risks cutting funding for institutions that have grown reliant on fee income from the more than 1.1 million foreign citizens studying in the US. The majority of these students are from China and India. Foreign students are estimated to generate economic benefits of $45 billion (€39 billion) a year, according to the US department of commerce. Nafsa, a network of universities and individuals engaged in international education, criticised 'an unacceptable assault on an already thorough screening and monitoring process [which] creates a climate of uncertainty and fear'. [ Trump v Harvard: University faces existential battle against opponent that would have once been unimaginable Opens in new window ] Amit Sevak, head of ETS, which runs the largest English language test for foreign students applying for universities in the US, said there had been a double-digit drop in the number of applications for the tests. 'What's happening right now with the fall semester just around the corner is that some international students may withdraw, delay or switch to applications elsewhere,' he said. 'The bigger implication will be in 2026.' Harvard launched a fresh legal effort last week to block Mr Trump's latest moves to prevent it accepting international students. 'Contingency plans are being developed to ensure that international students and scholars can continue to pursue their work at Harvard this summer and through the coming academic year,' said Alan Garber, Harvard's president. Mr Trump has focused his fiercest attacks on Harvard, which accepts 27 per cent of its students from abroad. But international students in universities across the country have expressed fears that if they return home for the summer they may not be readmitted. Suzanne Rivera, president of Macalester College in Minneapolis, one-fifth of whose students are from overseas, has launched a fundraising campaign with alumni and is creating additional internships to support foreign students who decide not to leave the US for the holidays. 'Our concern right now is that these policy shifts may erect obstacles that would prevent students returning to campus or new ones from matriculating,' she said. 'The fear is widespread for the international students among us that if they go home they might encounter difficulties trying to re-enter even if they have a valid visa.' New York University, Northeastern and Hult are among the universities with campuses in other countries, which allows them to reallocate places abroad to non-US students if visa delays persist. Several others have branch campuses in Qatar. Martin Boehm, executive vice-president of Hult International Business School, said he had not yet seen any visa problems with prospective students. 'I'm still super confident that everything runs smoothly.' However, delegating teaching to partner universities could produce complications because of different costs and academic standards, and uncertainty over whether students can receive credit for courses completed elsewhere. Grant Cornwell, president of Rollins College in Florida, which has about 10 per cent of its student body from abroad, said the presence of foreign students provided more than just financial benefits. 'Those perspectives bring enrichment to the classroom that speaks directly to our mission: have students learn with and from people who see the world differently,' he said. 'Both current and incoming students are anxious as they await visa appointments for new issuances and renewals. We think there could be a chilling effect for the following years.' – The Financial Times Limited 2025