Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg puts out distress videos after claiming to be 'kidnapped' by Israeli forces while en route to Gaza
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.
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19 minutes ago
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Australian protest as activist boat hits Gaza blockade
Protesters have demonstrated outside Anthony Albanese's electorate office after Israel blocked a boat carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza. Climate advocate Greta Thunberg was among a dozen activists on board the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's vessel Madleen when it was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean Sea early on Monday. They were prevented from entering the blockaded enclave. Students for Palestine, one of the groups that called for a snap protest at the prime minister's electorate office in Sydney among others around the country, said Australia should expel the Israeli ambassador. "The Madleen crew represent the hopes of all those who stand for humanity against the starvation and bombardment of Gazans, and they must be immediately released," the group's co-convenor Jasmine Duff said on Monday. Carrying placards and umbrellas on a rainy Monday they vocalised their anger and demanded Australia diplomatically increase pressure on Israel. "We call on Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong to immediately expel the Israeli ambassador, cut all military and economic ties with Israel, and pressure Israel to release the illegally kidnapped crew," Ms Duff added. The Sicily-based coalition said the humanitarian boat was "unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated." But the Israeli foreign ministry pointed the finger at Thunberg saying it was a "selfie yacht of celebrities" and those on board would be deported to their home countries. The progressive Jewish Council of Australia also urged Australia to place sanctions on Israel. "The world is watching," the council's executive officer Sarah Schwartz said. "We don't have to be a 'major player' to show our commitment to the basic humanity of Palestinians and be part of the global movement to pressure Israel through sanctions to comply with international law," The lack of food reaching Gaza caused by Israeli aid obstruction is leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians "vulnerable to starvation", the United Nations warned earlier in June. More than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's ongoing military offensive, according to Gaza health officials. The retaliatory campaign was in response to Hamas militants killing 1200 Israelis and capturing more than 250 hostages in October 2023. Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.


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19 minutes ago
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"The Madleen crew represent the hopes of all those who stand for humanity against the starvation and bombardment of Gazans, and they must be immediately released," the group's co-convenor Jasmine Duff said on Monday.


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Australian protest as activist boat hits Gaza blockade
Protesters have demonstrated outside Anthony Albanese's electorate office after Israel blocked a boat carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza. Climate advocate Greta Thunberg was among a dozen activists on board the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's vessel Madleen when it was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean Sea early on Monday. They were prevented from entering the blockaded enclave. Students for Palestine, one of the groups that called for a snap protest at the prime minister's electorate office in Sydney among others around the country, said Australia should expel the Israeli ambassador. "The Madleen crew represent the hopes of all those who stand for humanity against the starvation and bombardment of Gazans, and they must be immediately released," the group's co-convenor Jasmine Duff said on Monday. Carrying placards and umbrellas on a rainy Monday they vocalised their anger and demanded Australia diplomatically increase pressure on Israel. "We call on Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong to immediately expel the Israeli ambassador, cut all military and economic ties with Israel, and pressure Israel to release the illegally kidnapped crew," Ms Duff added. The Sicily-based coalition said the humanitarian boat was "unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated." But the Israeli foreign ministry pointed the finger at Thunberg saying it was a "selfie yacht of celebrities" and those on board would be deported to their home countries. The progressive Jewish Council of Australia also urged Australia to place sanctions on Israel. "The world is watching," the council's executive officer Sarah Schwartz said. "We don't have to be a 'major player' to show our commitment to the basic humanity of Palestinians and be part of the global movement to pressure Israel through sanctions to comply with international law," The lack of food reaching Gaza caused by Israeli aid obstruction is leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians "vulnerable to starvation", the United Nations warned earlier in June. More than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's ongoing military offensive, according to Gaza health officials. The retaliatory campaign was in response to Hamas militants killing 1200 Israelis and capturing more than 250 hostages in October 2023. Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.