Israeli Navy Intercepts Gaza-Bound Activist Ship ‘Madleen’, Detains Greta Thunberg and Others

In a dramatic turn of events early Monday morning, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Gaza-bound vessel Madleen and detained 12 international activists on board, including prominent figures like climate activist Greta Thunberg, Brazilian campaigner Thiago Avila, and French-Palestinian EU Parliament member Rima Hassan. The boat, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's protest mission, was attempting to breach Israel’s longstanding maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip — a blockade the activists claim exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn enclave.

The Madleen departed from Sicily last week, defying multiple Israeli warnings to alter course. Around 3 a.m., Israel’s elite Shayetet 13 naval commando unit, along with the Snapir harbor patrol, boarded the ship after final warnings were ignored. The boat was subsequently towed to Ashdod Port, where all 12 passengers were safely detained and scheduled for deportation.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry called the Madleen a “selfie yacht,” criticizing the voyage as a “publicity stunt” that offered “less than a single truckload” of aid. Officials emphasized that the same amount of aid could have been delivered through legal, coordinated channels. The ministry highlighted that over 1,200 aid trucks had entered Gaza in the last two weeks, and more than 11 million meals had been distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

A video shared by the Israeli government showed soldiers peacefully escorting the detained passengers ashore. In an attempt to downplay concerns about their well-being, the ministry posted an image of Thunberg being offered a sandwich, stating she was “in good spirits.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant commended the navy for executing the operation without violence. His colleague, Defense Minister Israel Katz, took a harder stance. In a tweet following the interception, Katz praised the swift action and announced that the detained activists would be shown a 43-minute video titled Bearing Witness— a graphic compilation of atrocities committed by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, massacre. The footage, compiled from bodycams and other sources, has previously been used to bolster Israel's international campaign against Hamas.

“It’s appropriate that Greta the antisemite and her Hamas-supporting friends should see exactly who is the terror group Hamas that they support,” Katz stated. He further accused the activists of undermining legitimate humanitarian efforts and endangering lives by attempting to breach a military blockade in a conflict zone.

Despite the failure of their mission, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition maintains that the Israeli navy’s actions were unlawful. They accused Israel of kidnapping their crew, seizing a civilian vessel, and confiscating essential supplies such as baby formula and medical aid. Before losing contact, the group began releasing pre-recorded appeals from onboard members, asking their respective governments for support.

While Madleen’s interception ended without violence, the incident rekindles memories of previous high-profile flotilla missions — most notably the 2010 Mavi Marmara affair, which resulted in the deaths of 10 activists and global condemnation. A similar attempt last month ended more violently when a different ship affiliated with the same coalition was allegedly struck by drones in international waters near Malta. That attack was widely attributed to Israel, though it never officially claimed responsibility.

Israel has enforced a tight land, air, and sea blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized control of the coastal strip in 2007. Officials insist the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons smuggling. Critics, however, argue it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s two million residents.

Since the October 7 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw over 250 hostages taken, the war has raged with devastating consequences. Israel says it has eliminated more than 20,000 Hamas fighters in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims over 54,000 people have been killed or are missing, though the figures include fighters and cannot be independently verified.

In defending its actions, Israel maintains that it takes significant steps to avoid civilian casualties, even as it accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, homes, and schools as military shields.

As the Madleen’s voyage ends in detention and deportation, the political reverberations of the flotilla mission are likely to linger — not only as a statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but also as a fresh flashpoint in the ongoing information war surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.