3 days ago
Israel's seizure of Gaza-bound ship Madleen in international waters a continued violation of international law
PARIS - Swedish activist Greta Thunberg condemns Israel's seizure of Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen in international waters early Monday, calling it a violation of international law.
"I don't know if 'disappointed' is the right word. This is a continued violation of international law and war crimes that Israel is systematically committing against Palestinians by not letting aid come in, by starving people and mass slaughtering in every possible way during a live stream, a full-blown genocide that the world is watching," she said.
She was speaking to reporters at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris in France following her deportation from Israel.
Thunberg, who was among 12 activists detained by Israeli forces on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's (FFC) yacht, the Madleen said they were kidnapped in international waters while attempting to break the blockade and deliver essential aid to Gaza.
Asked about her deportation, Thunberg said she did not recognise that she entered the country illegally.
"I made it very clear in my testimony that we were kidnapped on international waters and brought there, against our own will, into Israel," she told reporters.
The 22-year-old added that she refused to sign any document recognising her entry into the Israeli territory as "illegal."
She also condemned the silence and inaction of European governments saying that their silence was complicit in Israel's illegal actions.
"Most importantly, their complicity in the genocide that's going on now by sending aid, military and financial support to Israel, they are also part of the killings of Palestinians," she said.
She said once again, the FFC has been continuously sending boats aiming to break the siege and open up a humanitarian corridor since 2008.
"We were very well aware of the risks of going on this mission and as I said before, there have been many previous Flotillas on similar missions that have been either attacked, intercepted or actually reaching Gaza.
"We were 12 peaceful volunteers sailing on a civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid on international waters. We did not break laws. We did nothing wrong. Whatever the odds are, we have to keep trying," Thunberg said.
This, she said was one of those missions and right now, it was more important than ever because of the siege and because of the systematic starvation of over two million people and the full-blown live stream genocide.
"This was a mission of attempting to, once again, bring aid to Gaza, which is desperately needed... also to send solidarity and say that we see you, we see what is happening and we cannot accept just witnessing all this and doing nothing," she said. Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg talks to journalists upon her arrival to Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, as she left Israel on a flight to Sweden via France, after she was detained along with other activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid boat, on June 10, 2025. - (Photo by HUGO MATHY / AFP)
Palestinians displaced by Israel's ongoing aggressions expressed deep sorrow and anger over Flotilla's interception.
A Palestinian woman interviewed by United Kingdom–based media outlet Middle East Eye on the ground said she had been eagerly waiting for the boat to break the siege, bring food for their children and ease their suffering amid the ongoing famine and dire conditions they were facing.
Meanwhile, displaced mother Um Mohamed Abu Namous emotionally recounted her loss.
"Our children are dying of hunger. We buried them with our own hands. We do not want to lose the other children because of hunger," she said.
Another displaced Palestinian Nour Rabie said "This was a move that few would have dared to make. We hoped the boat would arrive safely as it could encourage both Arab and foreign nations to support us" while Sameh al-Sakani said "Perhaps this boat brought a glimmer of hope, offering a few days of relief to the children, the starving and those facing death."
It was reported that Thunberg flew out of Tel Aviv on Tuesday, bound for Sweden via France.
The Madleen departed from Catania in Sicily, southern Italy on June 1 carrying essential humanitarian cargo including food, baby formula, medical supplies and other life-saving aid foor the beseiged population of Gaza.
According FFC, the Israeli forces had unlawfully boarded the ship, detained its unarmed crew and confiscated the cargo.
Legal rights group Adalah was reported saying that Israel had treated all 12 activists as if they "illegally entered" the country, despite forcibly detaining them in international waters and transferring them into its territory against their will.
It was also reported that Israel had imposed a 100-year entry ban on each of them.
