Israeli forces halt Gaza-bound aid boat and detain Greta Thunberg and other activists
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board early Monday, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organized the voyage to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and protest Israel's blockade and wartime conduct, said the activists had been 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' and released pre-recorded messages from them.
'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. 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 diverted.
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 2½-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers 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. Critics of the blockade say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians.
Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but later relented under U.S. 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 Oct. 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 doesn't 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.
___
Follow AP's war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Hashtags

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


Newsweek
24 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Greta Thunberg Says She Has Been Kidnapped by Israeli Forces-What We Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid vessel on Monday and detained its passengers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, amid ongoing restrictions on access to the Palestinian territory. Why It Matters The civilian vessel, named Madleen and operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was stopped in international waters. The Israeli military stated that the interception was part of enforcement measures related to its longstanding naval blockade of Gaza. The FFC said the group was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid, including food, baby formula and medical supplies. According to Israel's Foreign Ministry, the Madleen was redirected to the Israeli port of Ashdod, and the passengers would be returned to their countries of origin. The ministry released a video showing the activists wearing life vests and receiving food and water. In a statement posted online, it described the ship as a "selfie yacht" and said the aid would be transferred to Gaza through established procedures. Greta Thunberg meets with journalists in Catania, Italy on June 1, 2025, ahead of departure to Gaza. Greta Thunberg meets with journalists in Catania, Italy on June 1, 2025, ahead of departure to Gaza. /Salvatore Cavalli/AP Photo What To Know In a pre-recorded video released by the FFC, Thunberg said: "If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel." The FFC had advised participants to prepare for interception and recorded messages in advance. SOS! the volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces. Greta Thunberg is a Swedish citizen. Pressure their foreign ministries and help us keep them safe! Web: X : @SweMFA FB : @SweMFA IG : swedishmfa#AllEyesOnMadeleen — Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 9, 2025 The Israeli government stated that unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are "unlawful" and "undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza and that the passengers would be shown a video of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks upon their arrival in Israel. Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade of Gaza since 2007, following the takeover of the territory by Hamas. Israel says the restrictions are aimed at preventing the import of weapons and materials used by militant groups; and that all passengers "are safe and unharmed." Hamas, which governs Gaza, called the interception "a flagrant violation of international law" and said the activists were "civilian volunteers acting out of humanitarian motives." The group has demanded their immediate release and called on the United Nations and other international organizations to intervene. All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over. — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025 The United Nations has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than 2 million people reside. A UN-backed assessment warned in April 2025 that one in five residents faced starvation. The Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 54,000 fatalities in the territory since the conflict escalated in October 2023. Israel's campaign followed a Hamas-led attack in which 1,200 people were killed and over 250 were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. The FFC, founded in 2010, has organized multiple attempts to challenge the blockade. Last month, another vessel in its fleet, the Conscience, was damaged in what the group alleged was a drone strike off the coast of Malta. The Israeli military did not comment on that incident. The Madleen had departed Sicily on June 1. What Happens Next? Israeli authorities have indicated that the detained activists will be processed and repatriated. As of Monday, they were being transported to Ashdod.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Israeli forces halt aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg
Israeli troops have intercepted a ship trying to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and have detained activists onboard, including Greta Thunberg. Ms Thunberg spoke to ITV News before the interception, saying she anticipated the move from Israeli forces. .


Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
IDF detains Gaza-bound vessel carrying Greta Thunberg: ‘The show is over'
Israeli forces early Monday detained an aid boat bound for Gaza while carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists. The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that it detained the Madleen, along with all its passengers, and diverted the vessel to Israel. A video from the ministry posted on X shows an Israeli Navy officer engaging with the approaching "selfie yacht." ISRAEL VOWS TO 'ACT ACCORDINGLY' AS THUNBERG SAILS TOWARD GAZA ON PALESTINIAN-FLAGGED VESSEL "Using an international civilian communication system, the Israeli Navy has instructed the 'selfie yacht' to change its course due to its approach toward a restricted area," a post from the ministry read. The video shows a Navy officer telling them that the maritime of the Gaza coast is closed to traffic. She instructs the activists on board that they must deliver aid through established channels. The Israel Foreign Ministry said the passengers were "safe and unharmed" and had been provided sandwiches and water. "The show is over," the ministry said. Israel had vowed to stop the so-called Freedom Flotilla Coalition in the days leading up to its arrival. THIRD ROUND OF HOSTAGE RELEASES BEGINS AS PART OF HAMAS' GAZA CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL Thunberg, a 22-year-old climate activist from Sweden, set sail aboard the Madleen last week, hoisting a Palestinian flag with 11 other activists, including "Game of Thrones" actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassa, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent. The groups' aim was to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip to bring in some aid and raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. According to the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, the aid on the ship was less than a single truckload. "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," the ministry said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the IDF to screen the footage of October 7 to participants of the Gaza-bound flotilla. Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.