Conor McGregor and Liam Cunningham clash in fiery online spat
UFC star Conor McGregor has clashed with Irish actor Liam Cunningham in an online spat over the Gaza-bound aid boat Madleen.
The Israel Defence Forces boarded and seized the vessel carrying 12 people, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, which was attempting to enter Gaza and break a naval blockade overnight.
The vessel set sail from Sicily last Sunday with the hopes of bringing much needed civilian aid to the region. UFC star Conor McGreggor has clashed with Irish actor Liam Cunningham in an online spat over the Gaza-bound aid boat Madleen. Pic: Tucker Carlson via YouTube
The British-flagged boat was packed to the brim with aid supplies, with many members of the expedition documenting their journey via social media in a bid to further bring awareness to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham was also involved in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, revealing that those aboard were transporting items that Israel were not allowing inside Gaza such as crutches and baby formula.
The Irish star has shared several tweets in the wake of Israel seizing the aid boat, with one stating: 'The Freedom flotilla was attacked during the night. The ship was rammed, boarded, and the 12 volunteers kidnapped.' The Israel Defence Forces boarded and seized the vessel carrying 12 people, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, which was attempting to enter Gaza and break a naval blockade overnight. Pic: Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages/REX/Shutterstock
He described it as 'more reprehensible behaviour from the genocidal regime in Tel Aviv.'
Conor McGregor quickly responded to the actor's tweet on X, saying: 'I thought you were on this boat Liamo, what happened?'
'You forgot your goggles? You get seasick off the gargle? Bottler,' McGregor added,
Didn't know you could read and write Conor. Thought you used your hands to tap out. — liam cunningham (@liamcunningham1) June 9, 2025
This quickly ignited a feud between the pair, with Cunningham responding: 'Didn't know you could read and write, Conor. Thought you used your hands to tap out.'
The Irish fighter then uploaded a picture depicting Greta Thunberg, which was originally posted by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
In a separate tweet, McGregor said: 'Tell us you're plotting an Irish goodbye without telling us.' The vessel set sail from Sicily last Sunday with the hopes of bringing much needed civilian aid to the region. Pic:'Two bags full packed and ready to skid! Ah Liamo you little bottler!' he added, including a picture of Cunningham during the Madleen launch in Sicily with activists Thiago Ávila and Yasemin Acar.
He later added: 'For the record, Liam Cunningham is a virtue signaling bottler. He was right there and did not go. That is absolutely embarrassing.'
Speaking last week at the launch of a new People Before Profit pamphlet 'No To War – Defend Irish Neutrality', the actor explained that it was never planned that he would be on the Madleen boat as it is a small vessel.
The Israel Foreign Ministry confirmed they had apprehended the yacht overnight, with the passengers 'expected to return to their home countries.'
A message shared via X from the Ministry said: 'The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.
'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.'
The department added that the 'tiny amount of aid' on the yacht would be transferred to Gaza 'through real humanitarian channels.'
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