3 days ago
Outrage as Israel releases footage of Flotilla hostages
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship the Madleen was captured by Israel's forces overnight, with activist Greta Thunberg, who was on board, saying in a statement that they had been 'intercepted and kidnapped'.
Separately, Israel's foreign ministry called the boat a "selfie yacht'.
READ MORE: Freedom Flotilla urges UK Government to 'protect' ship from Israel as it nears Gaza
The ministry then shared a video at 2.25am, showing the hostages being given water and sandwiches.
The caption reads: "All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over."
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 video has 11.1 million views on Twitter/X, with more than 8000 comments. One states: "Worst propaganda I've ever seen".
Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha also replied: "Shame on you. These people did not come to be fed by YOU.
"They left their countries and families to feed other people you are murdering, to stand in solidarity with them, to stand up for humanity which you have been slaughtering every single day."
The activists had set out to protest against Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of some two million Palestinians at risk of famine.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organised the voyage, said the activists were 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory.
'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.
Australian Green senator David Shoebridge said the seizure of the board was a 'clear breach of international law".
The UK Government has been approached for comment.
READ MORE: Israel issues statement after 'unlawfully' detaining Madleen aid ship to Gaza
At approximately 12.30am on Monday, the coalition said drones had been spotted above the ship.
Video footage from crew members onboard the Madleen shows a white substance which had been thrown onto the ship. The coalition described the substance as "irritant", with several crew members reporting that their eyes were burning.
The Madleen was reportedly flying the red ensign, the UK's shipping flag. That means the UK Government retains jurisdiction over the ship even if it was in international waters.
However, if the ship entered Israeli waters, then it may become subject to Israeli laws.
