Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg puts out distress videos after claiming to be 'kidnapped' by Israeli forces while en route to Gaza

Sky News AU

2 days ago

Activists aboard the Gaza-bound Madleen, which has been carrying Greta Thunberg, claim to have been "kidnapped" by Israeli forces after attempting to defy the naval blockade.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and her Freedom Flotilla Coalition companions have put out distress videos after being "kidnapped" by Israeli forces while en route to Gaza.
Israeli forces boarded the charity vessel which was attempting to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade.
The British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian FFC, had departed from Sicily on June 6 and had hoped to reach Gaza later in the day, when the interception occurred, the group said on its Telegram account.
In a video uploaded to X, Thunberg told FFC followers they had been "intercepted and kidnapped international waters" by the Israel, and called on the Swedish government to "put pressure" on the Netanyahu government.
"I urge all my friends, family and comrades to pout pressure on the Swedish government to release me, and the others, as soon as possible," she said in the video. — Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 9, 2025
Activist Yasmin Acar said the ship was being surrounded by drones and encircled by ships in a post to social media.
Shortly after, she released a pre-recorded video which said, 'If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea and kidnapped at sea'.
'SOS! the volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces,' the rogue activists said in a post to Telegram.
'Greta Thunberg is a citizen of Sweden. Pressure their foreign ministries and help us keep them safe!'
It follows escalating tensions as the Madleen, a British-flagged vessel carrying a symbolic cargo of aid attempted to breach Israel's longstanding naval blockade of Gaza.
Contact with the Madleen was lost on Monday (Australian time) after reports emerged of an Israeli military operation to halt the vessel in international waters.
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who had been in communication with the vessel, posted on X that the situation had become critical.
'Two drones over the Madleen. They say they are quadcopters, the dangerous ones. TEAM IS TAKING COVER.'
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had earlier issued a direct order to the military to prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza.
'To Greta the anti-Semite and her companions, Hamas propaganda mouthpieces, I say clearly: turn back because you will not reach Gaza,' he said.
This is a developing story. More to come.