Greta Thunberg Gaza flotilla – live: Israeli forces seize aid ship heading to enclave

Climate activist claims the group onboard the flotilla were â??kidnappedâ?? while trying to delivery aid to the territory

👉 Click Here to read in detail 👈

Greta Thunberg 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' in international waters while carrying aid for Gaza

On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Israeli forces have stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained a dozen activists, including Greta Thunberg, who were on board, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas.

The activists had set out to protest 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.

Israeli officials, including defence minister Israel Katz, dismissed the activists as engaged in a publicity stunt and said the vessel would be transported to the port of Ashdod.

Mr Katz said he had told the military to force the passengers to watch videos of the Hamas atrocities of October 7 upon arrival “to see exactly who the terrorist organisation they came to support and for whom they work is”.

The Israeli foreign ministry added the passengers would be returned to their home countries.

Israel 'rams and boards' Gaza-bound Madleen Israel says it will force Thunberg to watch videos of Hamas' October 7 attacks Why was the Madleen sailing to Gaza? Israel to screen October 7 footage to Greta Thunberg and Gaza flotilla activists after aid boat seized

The British-flagged boat was diverted to Israel early on Monday morning after being intercepted by Israeli forces, the country’s foreign ministry said, adding that all passengers onboard were safe and unharmed.

Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:44

Madleen tracker stops in early hours of Monday

The GPS tracker following the Gaza-bound Madleen vessel issued its last signal between 1.05 am and 1.19 am.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) announced that the boat had been boarded by Israeli forces at a similar time.

The Madleen GPS tracker stopped issuing a signal after it was boarded by Israeli forces off the coast of Egypt (Freedom Flotilla Coalition )

Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:29

Rima Hassan issues SOS video after Israeli interception

French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan has issued a pre-recorded SOS video after being intercepted aboard the Madleen.

The 33-year-old member of France’s far-left La France Insoumise party is calling on supporters to pressure Paris to help secure her release.

Half of the 12-person crew aboard the Madleen is French. Paris had said it was closely monitoring the vessel as it approached Gaza.

All but one of the crew have issued SOS messages since their capture by Israeli forces in the early hours of Monday.

It is unclear why Omar Faiad, a French journalist with Al Jazeera who is covering the trip, has not issued an SOS message.

Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:13

Turkey: Israel is ‘acting as a terror state’

Turkey has accused Israel of “acting as a terror state” after it intercepted a Gaza-bound vessel carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid.

Turkey’s foreign ministry said the interception, which was outside Israeli waters, was a clear violation of international law.

“Once again, this demonstrates that [Israel] is acting as a terror state,” the foreign ministry said.

Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:05

Iran: Israel's interception of Madleen is a ‘form of piracy’

Iran has accused Israel of “piracy” after it intercepted, boarded and towed a Gaza-bound vessel.

“The assault on this flotilla - since it happened in international waters - is considered a form of piracy under international law,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a press briefing in Tehran on Monday.

The Madleen was intercepted before it reached Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, which extends 100 nautical miles into the Mediterranean.

Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:01

Who is on board the Madleen?

There are 12 people aboard the Madleen vessel, which is now heading to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The most famous of those is Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, 22.

Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, is also on board. The MEP was barred from entering Israel in February after being accused of anti-Israel comments.

The other members include:

Omar Faiad, a French journalist with Al Jazeera who is covering the trip Yanis Mhamdi, a journalist at the French independent media outlet, Blast, also there to report on the trip Pascal Maurieras, a French activist and experienced flotilla participant Thiago Avila, a Brazilian journalist, social activist and politician who has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause for almost two decades Baptiste Andre, a French physician who is expected to assist passengers or demonstrators injured in possible confrontations with Israeli forces Yasemin Acar, a German activist of Kurdish descent and part of the FCC’s steering committee Reva Viard, a climate activist from France Suayb Ordu, a Turkish activist Sergio Toribio, a crew member from Spain and a member of the marine conservation NGO, Sea Shepherd Marco Van Rennes, a Dutch marine engineering student and crew member

Liam Cunningham, a Game of Thrones actor, attended the send-off ceremony in Sicily last Sunday.

Greta Thunberg with part of the crew of the ship Madleen, shortly before departure for Gaza ( Getty Images)

Tom Watling9 June 2025 08:53

Palestinian officials call for 'protection' of Madleen crew

The Palestinian foreign ministry has called for the “protection” of the 12-person crew of the Madleen as they are transferred to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

In a statement on X, the foreign ministry of the Palestinian Authority, which runs the West Bank, wrote: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciates the efforts of international activists aboard the Freedom #Flotilla and calls for their protection.”

9 June 2025 08:42

What has Israel said about the interception of the Madleen? Part 2

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has described Greta Thunberg and the eleven other activists on board the Madleen as “anti-Semitic” and ordered the military to force the campaigners to watch videos of the horrors of October 7 upon their arrival in the port of Ashdod.

In a post on X this morning, Mr Katz wrote: “I congratulate the [Israeli military] for the quick and safe takeover of the ‘Madleen’ flotilla to prevent them from breaking the blockade and reaching the shores of Gaza.

“I instructed the [Israeli military] to show the flotilla passengers the video of the horrors of the October 7 massacre when they arrive at the port of Ashdod.

“It is appropriate that the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organisation they came to support and for whom they work is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself.

“The Israeli military will continue its war against the Hamas murderers with all its moral righteousness until they are subdued, all the hostages are released, and the security of the State of Israel is ensured.”

Israel’s current government, under the leadership of hard-right prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, frequently describe any criticism of their war in Gaza as “anti-Semitic”.

Tom Watling9 June 2025 08:33

What has Israel said about the interception of the Madleen? Part 1

Israel’s foreign ministry posted five times on Monday about the Madleen, including footage showing Israeli soldiers giving food and water to the 12 activists on board the vessel.

They have described the vessel as a “selfie yacht” and the nominal aid on board the Madleen as evidence that it is a “media gimmick”. They suggest Israeli forces supply Gaza with “regular” aid, a claim that is contested by the international community.

In a video posted below, the ministry said the 12 crew members were “safe and unharmed” after being intercepted.

Tom Watling9 June 2025 08:29

In pictures: Israel intercepts the Madleen

Below we bring you pictures from on board the Madleen as Israeli forces intercepted the vessel off the coast of Gaza.

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.

They are now being transported to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

A screenshot from a video posted by the FFC shows the moment Israel intercepted the Madleen off the coast of Gaza (EPA ) Climate activist Greta Thunberg, 22, is handed food by Israeli soldiers aboard the Madleen ( via REUTERS) An image grab from footage published on the Israeli Foreign Ministry's X account shows what the ministry said were passengers of the Madleen Gaza-bound aid boat being given water after the vessel was intercepted by Israeli forces (Israeli Foreign Ministry/AFP via )

Tom Watling9 June 2025 08:19

Newer1 /  2Older

👉 Click Here to read in detail 👈

Miatamil

Listed here the latest Trending News