By Matthew Doran, ABC News
Greta Thunberg on board the Madleen, on her way to Gaza, June 2025. Photo: Greta Thunberg / supplied
Israeli forces have boarded a charity vessel attempting to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said.
The British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian FFC, had departed from Sicily on 6 June and had hoped to reach Gaza later in the day, when the interception occurred, the group said on its Telegram account.
Among those on board the boat are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.
SOS! the volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces.
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 9, 2025
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish citizen.
Pressure their foreign ministries and help us keep them safe!
Web: https://t.co/uCGmx8sn8j
X : @SweMFA
FB : @SweMFA
IG : swedishmfa#AllEyesOnMadeleen pic.twitter.com/76Myrg2Bnz
Shortly before the FFC statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a video on X showing the Israeli Navy communicating with the Madleen over a loudspeaker, urging it to change course.
"The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade," a soldier said. "If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the (Israeli) port of Ashdod."
The yacht, with its 12-person crew, was carrying a symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since posted on social media to say the Gaza-bound boat was redirected to Israeli shores.
"The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries," Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on social media.
All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over. pic.twitter.com/tLZZYcspJO
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military on Sunday to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.
The blockade has remained in place through multiple conflicts, including the current war, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally.
Earlier Reuters quoted the coalition as saying the alarm had sounded on the vessel and life jackets were being put on preparing for an interception.
The vessel was in the Mediterranean Sea off the Egyptian coast, but on Sunday Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said it should travel no further.
"I have instructed the IDF to act to prevent the Madleen hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza, and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end," Katz posted on social media platform X, along with a photo flanked by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials.
An image reportedly from the Freedom Flotilla vessel Madleen after it was boarded by Israeli military off the coast of Egypt. Photo: Freedom Flotilla Coalition
"To the antisemitic Greta [Thunberg] and her fellow Hamas propaganda spokespeople, I say clearly: you should turn back - because you will not reach Gaza.
"Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organisations - at sea, in the air, and on land."
Thunberg, who has rejected accusations she is antisemitic, replied soon after Katz made his comments.
"As we are sailing closer to Gaza with Israel saying they will not allow the boat to arrive with humanitarian aid (which would be a crime by them), it's very important to keep in mind that this mission is not about us nor the boat," she posted on Instagram.
"This is about the genocide, blockade and systematic oppression of Palestinians.
"People in Gaza don't need anyone to come and save them, they need us to amplify and support their struggle for justice, that we end our complicity, put pressure and cut ties with those committing human rights violations. Keep all eyes on deck but above all, all eyes on Palestine and all oppressed people."
Last month, another ship chartered by the Freedom Flotilla was attacked by drones the group said were launched by Israel.
Some of the campaigners on board the British-flagged Madleen, which set sail from Italy last week, said Israeli forces were already trying to scramble their communications, including GPS signals.
Israel has used such technology repeatedly during the course of the war in Gaza.
"We just received some very weird news that according to our tracker we are no longer 162 nautical miles from Gaza, which is where we are, but according to him we are on Jordan airport," Brazilian activist Thiago Avila posted on Instagram.
"We know what that means, when they start jamming our communication, when they started messing with our devices, it means that they are preparing for an interception or an attack.
"And we all heard the Israeli media saying that they confirmed the unit S13 of IOF Special Forces, so they are preparing to commit a war crime, and we need to stop that."
Greta Thunberg on board the Madleen, on her way to Gaza, June 2025. Photo: Greta Thunberg / supplied
Israel has repeatedly rejected allegations of war crimes in its conduct relating to the war in Gaza.
Israeli media has reported that the military plans to seize the ship and take it to the port of Ashdod, arresting and deporting the crew.
In 2010, the IDF boarded a Turkish ship leading a flotilla towards Gaza, and killed 10 people.
The IDF insists it is letting aid into the strip, and says 350 trucks carrying supplies were allowed to enter through the Kerem Shalom crossing last week.
But humanitarian agencies say that is far too few deliveries to make a difference, after the total humanitarian blockade of Gaza ran for 11 weeks and severely depleted supplies.
There have also been a series of shootings at aid distribution sites run by the private Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in recent days, which Palestinian health authorities and organisations such as the International Red Cross say have killed dozens and injured hundreds more.
Another four people were killed on Sunday, according to local medics.
GHF had suspended its operations twice in response to the deteriorating security situation near its sites, but resumed work on Sunday - and insisted it continued to deliver aid without incident.
"We are continuing to adapt and improve our operations to ensure the safety of the Palestinian people we aim to serve," GHF interim executive director John Acree said in a statement.
"Recently, we have started a women's and children-only lane to ensure they receive aid and today we piloted a direct-to-community delivery.
"Every day, we are looking to improve our operations and safely deliver aid to those who need it most."
Israel has accused Hamas of trying to undermine the new private aid model, alleging the militant group's fighters were responsible for the shootings.
But it has also conceded firing some shots at Palestinians near the sites, and is investigating the incidents.
Witnesses have said Israeli forces were responsible for the attacks, opening fire on desperate Palestinians as they scrambled to access aid.
- ABC News/Reuters/AFP
