Israeli authorities intercepted an aid ship bound for Gaza carrying international activists, including Swedish climate advocate Greta Thunberg, and diverted it to Israeli territory. The vessel, named Madleen, was part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and reportedly lost contact shortly after entering a restricted area off the coast of Egypt.
According to the group’s Telegram channel, Israeli forces boarded the ship on Monday. An image released showed passengers wearing life vests with their hands raised—a scene that has yet to be independently verified.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the vessel was “safely navigating to Israeli shores,” that the passengers were “unharmed,” and would be repatriated to their countries of origin. Authorities described the Madleen as a "celebrity selfie yacht" and criticized the activists for staging what they termed a publicity stunt with only a symbolic amount of aid on board, including rice and baby formula.
"There are legitimate ways to deliver aid to Gaza. This was an Instagram moment, not a humanitarian mission," stated the ministry, adding that the Israeli Navy had warned the ship to alter its course after entering a restricted zone.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had earlier declared that the Israeli military would not allow any attempt to breach the naval blockade of Gaza, citing security concerns regarding arms transfers to Hamas.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition condemned the interception, claiming the Madleen was a civilian vessel sailing in international waters and carrying human rights defenders from multiple nations. The group accused Israel of unlawfully using force to suppress a peaceful humanitarian effort.
UN officials and human rights groups have raised alarm over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where access to aid remains severely limited. The incident echoes a 2010 operation in which Israeli forces boarded the Mavi Marmara, resulting in ten fatalities.
The Madleen was reportedly carrying citizens from Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey. While the aid onboard was largely symbolic, organizers emphasized that the mission aimed to draw global attention to the ongoing blockade and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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