Climate activist Greta Thunberg has accused Israel of kidnapping her and fellow activists while they were attempting to bring humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza. The incident occurred when the UK-flagged vessel Madleen was intercepted by Israeli authorities on Monday about 125 miles off the coast of Gaza.
Thunberg, who was deported from Israel hours after the incident, claimed that she and other crew members had been kidnapped in international waters and brought against their will into Israel. She expressed concern for her fellow crew members, who remain in Israel facing deportation hearings.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the voyage, stated that they were attempting to bring much-needed aid to Gaza, which has been pushed to the brink of famine due to a total siege and severe restrictions. The situation has led to dozens of deaths among those trying to collect food from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Thunberg emphasized that she had refused to sign a document stating that she had entered Israel illegally and called for the immediate release of her fellow crew members. Amnesty International also weighed in, with its secretary general noting that the interception in international waters violates international law.
This incident is part of a long history of attempts by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to carry aid to Gaza, which has been subject to a naval blockade since 2007. The latest incident comes after one of their ships was damaged in international waters off Malta last May, with crew members issuing an SOS due to what they described as an attack by Israeli drones.
Thunberg’s deportation sparked controversy, with some crew members being held in detention as they waited for their cases to be heard by Israeli authorities. The crew had also been disparaged by Israeli officials, who labelled the vessel as the “selfie yacht” when it announced its seizure.
The climate activist emphasized that the Gaza-bound ship was not just about aid delivery but also a response to the systematic starvation of over 2 million people and the full-blown genocide being committed in Gaza. Thunberg’s comments come after she faced criticism from Donald Trump, who characterised her as an “angry person” and suggested that she should take anger management classes.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/10/greta-thunberg-accuses-israel-of-kidnapping-yacht-crew-gaza