Israeli Forces Seize Gaza-Bound Aid Boat, Detain Activists Including Greta Thunberg

Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid boat early Monday, detaining Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board. The activists were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli blockade for years.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage, accused Israeli forces of "kidnapping" the activists and confiscating the ship's cargo, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies. According to the coalition, the ship was seized in international waters approximately 200 kilometers from Gaza.

In response, Israel's Foreign Ministry described the voyage as a "public relations stunt," stating that the activists would be returned to their home countries and the aid would be sent to Gaza through established channels. Footage circulated by the Israeli military showed personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests.

The activists, including Thunberg and French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, a French citizen of Palestinian descent barred from entering Israel, were among 12 people on board the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily a week ago. During their journey, they rescued four migrants attempting to evade the Libyan coast guard.

Thunberg urged her supporters to pressure the Swedish government for their release in a pre-recorded message. French President Emmanuel Macron requested that Israel allow the six French citizens on board, including Hassan, to return to France as soon as possible.

Adalah, an Israeli rights group representing the activists, argued that Israel had "no legal authority" to seize the ship, as it was in international waters and headed for the "territorial waters of the state of Palestine." The group claimed that the detention of unarmed activists providing humanitarian aid constitutes a “serious breach of international law.”

The Gaza Strip has been under varying degrees of blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hamas seized power in 2007. Israel's military campaign, which began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The war has devastated large areas of Gaza, displacing approximately 90% of the population and leaving them reliant on international aid.

Efforts to negotiate another truce have stalled, with Hamas demanding a lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal in exchange for releasing the remaining hostages. Israel has pledged to continue the war until all captives are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and exiled.

The activists' detention is likely to draw international attention to the Gaza conflict and Israel's blockade, which critics argue amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's Palestinian population. Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas from importing arms.

In recent months, humanitarian workers and experts have warned of famine in Gaza unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. Last month, another attempt by the Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea was thwarted after one of its vessels was attacked by drones in international waters off Malta, with the group blaming Israel for the incident.