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Israel seized a Gaza-bound boat with Greta Thunberg on board. Can it do that?

Israel seized a Gaza-bound boat with Greta Thunberg on board. Can it do that?

Washington Post4 hours ago

JERUSALEM — Israeli naval forces, far from the country's shores, intercepted and seized a Gaza-bound ship carrying international activists, including Greta Thunberg , in an early morning raid Monday. The operation sparked accusations that Israel's actions, apparently in the high seas, were a breach of international law.
The activists say their journey was meant to protest Israel's ongoing war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there. The ship was carrying aid destined for people in Gaza, including baby formula and food. The activists, including Thunberg, were detained and were headed to Israel for likely deportation.

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Madleen boat seized by Israel forces: What to know
Madleen boat seized by Israel forces: What to know

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Madleen boat seized by Israel forces: What to know

(NewsNation) — Israeli forces said on Monday they seized a Gaza-bound aid boat and several people who were on board. The voyage on the Madleen had set out to protest Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip by a group of activists. The seizure of the ship was the result of a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war. This latest development opens up a whole new discussion to be had. What is the Madleen, and who are the key organizations? What were the consequences of the interception for the activists onboard? What are the potential outcomes of the IDF's actions against the flotilla? The Madleen is a boat used by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which set out on a week-long voyage from Sicily, Italy, to protest Israel's ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a movement composed of campaigns and initiatives from different parts of the world, all working together to end the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza. Several of its founding groups include the Free Gaza Movement, European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, and İHH İnsani Yardım Vakfı. Palestinians say Israeli fire kills 12 near aid sites. Israel says it fired warning shots Greta Thunberg was one of the 12 activists on board the Madleen who were detained. Thunberg is a Swedish climate campaigner. Along with her was Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, and Brazil's Thiago Ávila. Hassan had been previously barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. The boat had also stopped last week to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard. All 12 activists who were aboard the Madleen were detained by Israel's Foreign Ministry. Reports from Israeli media indicated that the Madleen and its crew members were being taken to the port city of Ashdod. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said all the activists would be returned to their home countries without harm. Israel says it has recovered the bodies of 2 Israeli-American hostages from the Gaza Strip On Sunday, the IFM made assurances that it would halt the 'Madleen from reaching the Gaza Strip. They also acknowledged that the humanitarian aid on the boat would be sent to Gaza through established channels. With the Freedom Flotilla unable to reach Gaza, the possible outcome of those people in need in the area getting the aid they need only shows more difficulty ahead. Spain and Turkey officials condemned Israel for the seizure of the vessel, saying, 'This heinous act by the Netanyahu government, which threatens the freedom of navigation and maritime security, once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state.' Hamas seeks amendments to Gaza ceasefire proposal but US envoy calls it 'unacceptable' The Freedom Flotilla last month attempted to reach Gaza by sea but 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, including the damage caused to the front section of the ship. Israel previously had started allowing basic aid into Gaza last month after a nearly three-month blockade, They were warned by humanitarian workers and experts of famine if the blockade and its military offensive continued. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Thunberg's boat docks in Israel after military blocks entry to Gaza
Thunberg's boat docks in Israel after military blocks entry to Gaza

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Thunberg's boat docks in Israel after military blocks entry to Gaza

A sailboat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists has docked in the Israeli port of Ashdod after the Israeli military blocked it from reaching Gaza on Monday. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on X that the activists were "currently undergoing medical examinations to ensure they are in good health." It also published a photo of Thunberg after she disembarked. The Madleen, from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), set sail from Sicily one week ago carrying aid for Palestinians and hoping to add pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza. However, they were intercepted by Israeli forces early on Monday after an order from Defence Minister Israel Katz. The activists were expected to be handed over to the police and prison authorities to be "medically examined and registered." They were then to be offered the opportunity to watch a video of the atrocities committed by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, before being returned to their home countries via the Ben Gurion International Airport. In a statement earlier on Monday, the FFC said the Madleen had "been attacked/forcibly intercepted by the Israeli military" in international waters. "The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated," the FFC said in a statement. FFC organizer Huwaida Arraf said Israel had no legal authority to detain those aboard the ship. "These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade — their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately,' Arraf said. "We are undeterred. We will sail again. We will not stop until the siege ends and Palestine is free," the FFC said. The activists argue that Israel must guarantee unhindered humanitarian access to the coastal strip. The Israeli Foreign Ministry, however, stated that the zone off the Gaza Strip is closed to unauthorized vessels under the naval blockade in place since 2007. A spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry labelled the international activists' action a "provocation" and a "gimmick," while the ministry has labelled the Madleen a "selfie yacht." Left-wing Israeli activists protested in Ashdod against the military's deployment, holding up signs calling for the government to "end the blockade, the hunger, the genocide."

Trump rejects Iran's counter-proposal in nuclear negotiations: 'it's just not acceptable'
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Trump rejects Iran's counter-proposal in nuclear negotiations: 'it's just not acceptable'

President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Iran and the ongoing negotiations. In speaking to reporters after the call he said he reiterated to Netanyahu Washington's push to make a deal avoid direct conflict. "We're trying to make a deal so that there's no destruction and death. And we've told them that, and I've told them that, and I hope that's the way it works out," Trump said. "But it might not work out that way. "We'll soon find out," he added. Trump claimed that Iran had already returned a counter-proposal to the U.S. following its rejection of a proposal given to them last week, though the president said "it's just not acceptable" and that more negotiations are needed, particularly regarding enrichment-related demands. The call came after the United Nation's nuclear watchdog, which is charged with monitoring all nations' nuclear programs, warned on Monday that it cannot verify whether Tehran's program is "entirely peaceful" despite the regime's claims. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, on Monday issued a warning statement that the agency has not only long been barred access to old and new nuclear sites, but that Iran has scrubbed locations in an apparent move to cover up its activities. In 2020, the IAEA found man-made particles of enriched uranium at three sites, including Varamin, Marivan and Turquzabad. The locations were previously utilized in Iran's nuclear program and gave the agency credence to believe Tehran had once again turned to deadly nuclear ambitions. "Since then, we have been seeking explanations and clarifications from Iran for the presence of these uranium particles, including through a number of high-level meetings and consultations in which I have been personally involved," Grossi said. "Unfortunately, Iran has repeatedly either not answered, or not provided technically credible answers to, the Agency's questions. "It has also sought to sanitize the locations, which has impeded Agency verification activities," he added. Grossi, who confirmed during an April trip to Washington, D.C. that the IAEA has not been involved in nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, said on Monday that he has been working "closely and intensively" with both parties in "support of their bilateral negotiation[s]." The warning comes after the IAEA in a report late last month, also confirmed that Iran had drastically increased its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium by nearly 35% in three months. In February, the IAEA assessed that Tehran possessed 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds) worth of uranium enriched to 60%, but on May 17th it found Iran now has some 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) – meaning the regime is just a technical step away from being able to make up to 10 nuclear warheads. Last week, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came out in strong opposition to a U.S. proposal submitted to Tehran to end its nuclear program, though it remains unclear what details were included in the document, including on enrichment capabilities, and on Sunday, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed the proposal didn't include any sanction relief. The White House has remained tight-lipped about what was included in the document, though according to some reporting, President Donald Trump gave Iran until June 11 to reach a deal with the U.S., though Fox News Digital could not independently verify these claims. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that "The U.S. proposal is not acceptable to us. It was not the result of previous rounds of negotiations." "We will present our own proposal to the other side via Oman after it is finalized. This proposal is reasonable, logical, and balanced," Baghaei reportedly said. Some reporting has also suggested Iran might submit their proposal as soon as June 10, though the Iranian UN mission in the U.S. would not comment on or confirm these claims.

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