In early June 2025, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition organized a bold sea mission. Departing from Catania, Sicily, on June 1 aboard the UK-flagged sailboat Madleen, twelve civilians, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan, embarked on a humanitarian voyage. Their goal: break Israel’s naval blockade and deliver food, medicine, diapers, and other vital supplies to over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza.
In the early hours of June 9, the Israeli navy intercepted and boarded the Madleen in international waters, about 200 km from Gaza. Israeli authorities described it as a legal operation under the naval blockade’s rules, stating the vessel entered a restricted zone. They towed the boat to Ashdod Port and escorted the passengers off immediately.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the flotilla as a “media publicity stunt,” labeling the participants as “selfie yacht passengers.” They emphasized that Israel had already delivered over 1,200 truckloads of aid in two weeks, dwarfing the flotilla’s cargo.
Greta Thunberg’s Reaction: “We Were Kidnapped”
Upon arrival in Israel, activists underwent medical checks. Some were detained, others deported. Greta Thunberg voluntarily agreed to deportation and left via France to Sweden. Yet, she publicly declared she and her colleagues were “kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupational forces,” pleading for her followers to pressure the Swedish government.
Greta Thunberg stated: “We were 12 peaceful volunteers sailing on a civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid on international waters. We did not break laws. We did nothing wrong.”
From Paris, she emphasized that the real injustice lay in Gaza’s suffering, saying: “The conditions [in Israeli detention] are absolutely nothing compared to what people are going through in Palestine and especially Gaza right now”
Israeli Officials Respond
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz insisted the operation aligned with legitimate blockade enforcement. He also ordered detainees to be shown graphic footage of the October 7 Hamas attack, explaining it aimed to present them with context.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gideon Sa’ar harshly dismissed the mission’s intent, saying: “Greta and her friends brought in a tiny amount of aid… This was nothing but a ridiculous gimmick.”
Israeli officials also shared images of Greta Thunberg onboard receiving water and sandwiches, stating she was safely treated and would return home soon.
According to the flotilla’s organizers, the vessel carried baby formula, 100 kg of flour, 250 kg of rice, diapers, medical kits, crutches, menstrual products, child prosthetics, and more, all meant for Gaza’s urgent needs.
The mission ignited fierce debate: supporters labeled it a principled stand for humanitarian relief and defiance of an oppressive blockade. Critics dismissed it as a high-profile PR stunt, arguing humanitarian aid should follow established, regulated channels. Legal experts are divided: opponents say Israel’s naval blockade is a lawful security measure; supporters highlight breaches of international law in intercepting vessels in international waters.
In this stirring tale of activism meeting geopolitics, Greta Thunberg’s sea mission has escalated tensions and ignited heated debate. Was it a courageous humanitarian effort, or a risky publicity stunt? Was the Israeli interception justified under international law, or a violation of human rights?
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