What to know about the intercepted Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla Coalition
A Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists, as well as food meant for the enclave, was intercepted early Monday by Israeli forces.
The big picture: The ship, called the Madleen, is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which aims to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and advocate for Palestinian sovereignty.
Thunberg and the other activists — German, Dutch, Brazilian, Turkish and Spanish citizens — were on board the ship as part of an unarmed aid mission to Gaza. Israel said it would deport the 12 activists, multiple outlets reported.
The Madleen is the second Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship targeted by Israel in just over a month. The Conscience was drone-bombed off the coast of Malta in early May, though no injuries were reported.
The FFC's efforts to bring food and other aid to Gaza come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked deliveries of food, water and medicine to the enclave in March, deepening the crisis for millions of Palestinians in Gaza.
What they're saying: The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a post to X that the Madleen passengers were kidnapped by Israeli forces.
Israel's Foreign Ministry cast the incident as a "selfie yacht" with "celebrities" on board in a post to X, but said all the activists will be deported to their home countries, though no timeline was given for when.
The Foreign Ministry said the Madleen contained less than a truckload of aid for Gaza and contended that over 1,200 trucks of aid have gone into the enclave in the past two weeks.
"There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies," the statement said, adding that the aid recovered from the ship would be sent to Gaza through "real" humanitarian channels.
Behind the scenes: United Nations experts called for the Madleen's safe passage to Gaza on June 2, a day after the ship set sail from Malta.
"Aid is desperately needed for the people of Gaza to forestall annihilation, and this initiative is a symbolic and powerful effort to deliver it," their statement said. "Israel should remember that the world is watching closely and refrain from any act of hostility against the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and its passengers."
What is the Freedom Flotilla Coalition?
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition defines itself as "an international civilian mission responding to international failure" and has focused its efforts on Gaza.
Its demands include an end to Israel's occupation of Gaza; immediate release of all Flotilla volunteers; delivery of humanitarian aid directly to Palestinians; and accountability for the military assaults on its ships.
"Governments must fulfill their obligations under international law and stop enabling Israel's crimes," the coalition said in a statement. "We are undeterred. We will sail again. We will not stop until the siege ends and Palestine is free."
The coalition began in 2010 and "guides its work in accordance with explicit goals and plans of the people in Gaza," its website said. Between 2008 and 2018, 35 boats challenged an Israeli naval blockade in Gaza.
Greta Thunberg's role
Thunberg, a climate and political activist, was aboard the Madleen as a volunteer when it was stopped by Israeli forces.
"How many people have to die before we decide that OK, this is the right moment?" Thunberg said in a video that was posted to social media while she was on the flotilla. "So it falls on us as communities, as human rights defenders, to take that responsibility."
Israel's Foreign Ministry said she was on her way to Israel, "safe and in good spirits," sharing a photo of her receiving a sandwich while wearing an orange life vest.
Context: Thunberg has long been outspoken about her support for Palestinians and a free Palestine.
"If you as a climate activist don't also fight for a free Palestine and an end to colonialism and oppression all over the world, then you should not be able to call yourself a climate activist," she said in October at a rally in Milan, Italy.
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'Violation of int'l law': Hamas, foreign gov'ts attack Israel over interception of Gaza flotilla
The IDF boarded the 'Madleen' early on Monday, taking the crew and the ship to the Port of Ashdod, where they would be sent back to their respective countries. Varying reactions were issued on Monday after the IDF intercepted the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, Madleen, early in the morning. Foreign ministries with citizens on board the ship confirmed that they have requested consular access. The IDF boarded the Madleen at around 3 a.m., and took the crew and the ship to the Port of Ashdod, where they would be sent back to their respective countries, with Defense Minister Israel Katz instructing that the passengers view footage from Hamas's October 7 attacks. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is "urgently working to locate the 11 international volunteers, and one journalist abducted from the civilian aid ship Madleen," the group's press officer said in a statement on Monday. "According to the Israeli Immigration Authority, they are not in its custody. [Adalah] has repeatedly contacted Israeli military officials but has yet to receive any response to its inquiries or letters since the early hours of the morning," the statement said. Hamas condemned the interception in a statement posted to the group's Telegram. "Intercepting the Madleen at sea and preventing it from delivering symbolic aid to our people, who are facing a war of genocide, constitutes state terrorism, a blatant violation of international law, and an assault on civilian volunteers motivated by humanitarian concerns," the terror group said. Spain summoned the head of the Israeli embassy, Dan Porez, in Madrid, for a reprimand on Monday afternoon, in response to the IDF's actions. Israel does not have an ambassador in Spain currently, due to its anti-Israel policy. French President Emmanuel Macron asked for the six French citizens aboard the Madleen to be released "as soon as possible," according to Israeli media. According to reports, France requested consular access to the six citizens aboard the Madleen as soon as the IDF boarded the vessel, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Monday, adding that France had forewarned each of the activists of the risks surrounding their trip. "As soon as the vessel was stopped, we asked to allow consular protection for them on our behalf. Our consulate asked to visit them as soon as they arrived in Israeli territory, in order to verify that their condition is normal and to facilitate their rapid return to France." "France calls on the Israeli government to allow immediate, widespread and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to Gaza," Barrot added. The German Ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, confirmed that the embassy is in contact with Israeli authorities regarding a German citizen aboard the boat, who has been offered consular assistance. Turkey on Monday condemned the interception, which it said was carrying Turkish citizens as well as activist Greta Thunberg among its 12-strong crew, calling the move a "clear violation of international law." The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the intervention threatened maritime security and "once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state."
