‘The show is over’: Israel intercepts activist boat carrying Greta Thunberg to Gaza
Israeli forces intercepted and detained a boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, as it attempted to break the Gaza blockade, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced Monday morning.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg in Israeli custody on June 9, 2025 Photo by Israeli Foreign Ministry/TPS-IL
The vessel, Madleen, was boarded by Israeli Navy personnel and towed to Ashdod Port without incident.
The Foreign Ministry dismissed the Madleen as a publicity stunt, referring to the boat as a “selfie yacht” organized to “stage a media provocation.” Everyone aboard will be deported.
“The show is over,” the ministry said.
The boat carried twelve people said they were sailing to Gaza to raise awareness and deliver humanitarian aid. Israeli officials noted that the Madleen was carryingd “less than a single truckload of aid” to the Strip.
“More than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza,” the Foreign Ministry noted.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage, reported losing contact with the vessel after Israeli forces boarded it. Prior to the interception, the group had prepared pre-recorded videos of passengers asking for help from their home countries, which were later published on Telegram.
Israeli forces communicated with the Madleen before boarding, telling them to change course for Ashdod, from where the boats’s aid items would be transferred to Gaza.
“The maritime zone near the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade,” a Navy officer told the Madleen by bullhorn in a video released by Israel.
The Foreign Ministry released video footage showing the detained activists being escorted by Israeli Navy personnel to port.
“Tthere are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed military personnel to show the detained activists footage depicting the October 7 attacks, though no details were provided about whether this occurred or how the activists responded.
No injuries were reported during the boarding operation or subsequent detention. The Israeli military deferred all comments to the Foreign Ministry’s statements.
Israel and Egypt have maintained restrictions on Gaza leading up today’s blockade to prevent weapons smuggling since Hamas seized control of the Strip in 2007. Since then, Palestinian activists have periodically sent flotillas trying to breach the blockade. In 2011, an independent UN inquiry into the Mavi Marmara affair of 2010 criticized Israeli forces for using excessive force but upheld the blockade’s legality.
At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 55 remaining hostages, 33 are believed to be dead.
