Israeli forces have stopped a Gaza-bound, UK-flagged aid boat and detained a dozen activists, including Greta Thunberg, who were on board, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas.
The activists had set out to protest Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of some two million Palestinians at risk of famine.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organised the voyage, said the activists were “kidnapped by Israeli forces” while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory.
“The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo – including baby formula, food and medical supplies -confiscated,” it said in a statement.
Israeli officials, including defence minister Israel Katz, dismissed the activists as engaged in a publicity stunt and said the vessel would be transported to the port of Ashdod.
Mr Katz said he had told the military to force the passengers to watch videos of the Hamas atrocities of October 7 upon arrival “to see exactly who the terrorist organisation they came to support and for whom they work is”.
The Israeli foreign ministry added that the passengers would be returned to their home countries.
There had been concern about a possible Israeli interception of the vessel given a similar incident in 2010 that resulted in nine activists dying.
Amnesty: Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound Madleen violates international law
The secretary general of Amnesty, Agnes Callamard, has accused Israel of violating international law by intercepting the Gaza-bound Madleen vessel.
The Madleen had been attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, in place since 2007, while carrying a symbolic amount of aid.
Israel intercepted the boat outside of their own territorial waters. They are now taking the vessel to the port of Ashdod, where the 12 crew members will be forced to watch videos of Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
“Israel’s interception of Madleen violates international law,” the former United Nations Special Rapporteur for extrajudicial killings wrote on X.
“As the occupying power (as recognised by the ICJ), Israel has a legal obligation to ensure civilians in Gaza have sufficient food and medicine. They should have let Madleen deliver its humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
“In line with its obligations as the occupying power, and the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice to prevent genocide, Israel must immediately lift its illegal blockade of Gaza, facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, and allow international fact-finding missions into Gaza.”
She added that Amnesty was calling on the United States to “do far more than they have done” to encourage aid to be let into Gaza.
Tom Watling9 June 2025 10:44
British MP calls for UK to protect Madleen
British MP Apsana Begum has called on the UK to “defend” the UK-flagged Madleen after it was intercepted by Israel in international waters.
In a statement on X , the Poplar and Limehouse wrote: “The Madleen is a civilian ship trying to deliver aid to the people of Gaza.
“Israel should remember that the world is watching & refrain from acts of hostility.
“The UK Government must remember its own obligations under international law & defend the ship’s right to free passage.”
Tom Watling9 June 2025 10:27
Spain summons Israeli diplomat over interception of Madleen
Spain has summoned an Israeli diplomat to a meeting today in protest at the seizing of the Madleen, Spanish publication El Pais is reporting.
One of the 12 crew aboard the Madleen, which is now being towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, is Spaniard Sergio Toribio, a member of the marine conservation NGO, Sea Shepherd
“The foreign ministry is in contact with the Spaniard in question, with his family and with the Israeli foreign ministry, and is exercising consular protection with regard to our citizen,” foreign ministry sources told the paper.
A pre-recorded video of Toribio asking for help was posted earlier today.
Tom Watling9 June 2025 10:10
The Madleen is a UK-shipped flag
As the Madleen heads to the Israeli port of Ashdod, after being picked up by Israel’s military in the early hours of Monday, we remind you that the vessel is a UK-flagged ship.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which manages the boat, announced earlier this week that the Madleen was sailing under a UK flag.
Israeli news outlets later reported that Israel had asked the UK government to stop the vessel on its quest to Gaza. The UK allegedly denied this request before asking Israel to ensure the vessel’s safe passage.
Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:56
Israel to screen October 7 footage to Greta Thunberg and Gaza flotilla activists after aid boat seized
The British-flagged boat was diverted to Israel early on Monday morning after being intercepted by Israeli forces, the country’s foreign ministry said, adding that all passengers onboard were safe and unharmed.
Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:44
Madleen tracker stops in early hours of Monday
The GPS tracker following the Gaza-bound Madleen vessel issued its last signal between 1.05 am and 1.19 am.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) announced that the boat had been boarded by Israeli forces at a similar time.
Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:29
Rima Hassan issues SOS video after Israeli interception
French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan has issued a pre-recorded SOS video after being intercepted aboard the Madleen.
The 33-year-old member of France’s far-left La France Insoumise party is calling on supporters to pressure Paris to help secure her release.
Half of the 12-person crew aboard the Madleen is French. Paris had said it was closely monitoring the vessel as it approached Gaza.
All but one of the crew have issued SOS messages since their capture by Israeli forces in the early hours of Monday.
It is unclear why Omar Faiad, a French journalist with Al Jazeera who is covering the trip, has not issued an SOS message.
Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:13
Turkey: Israel is ‘acting as a terror state’
Turkey has accused Israel of “acting as a terror state” after it intercepted a Gaza-bound vessel carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid.
Turkey’s foreign ministry said the interception, which was outside Israeli waters, was a clear violation of international law.
“Once again, this demonstrates that [Israel] is acting as a terror state,” the foreign ministry said.
Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:05
Iran: Israel’s interception of Madleen is a ‘form of piracy’
Iran has accused Israel of “piracy” after it intercepted, boarded and towed a Gaza-bound vessel.
“The assault on this flotilla – since it happened in international waters – is considered a form of piracy under international law,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a press briefing in Tehran on Monday.
The Madleen was intercepted before it reached Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, which extends 100 nautical miles into the Mediterranean.
Tom Watling9 June 2025 09:01
Who is on board the Madleen?
There are 12 people aboard the Madleen vessel, which is now heading to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
The most famous of those is Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, 22.
Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, is also on board. The MEP was barred from entering Israel in February after being accused of anti-Israel comments.
The other members include:
- Omar Faiad, a French journalist with Al Jazeera who is covering the trip
- Yanis Mhamdi, a journalist at the French independent media outlet, Blast, also there to report on the trip
- Pascal Maurieras, a French activist and experienced flotilla participant
- Thiago Avila, a Brazilian journalist, social activist and politician who has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause for almost two decades
- Baptiste Andre, a French physician who is expected to assist passengers or demonstrators injured in possible confrontations with Israeli forces
- Yasemin Acar, a German activist of Kurdish descent and part of the FCC’s steering committee
- Reva Viard, a climate activist from France
- Suayb Ordu, a Turkish activist
- Sergio Toribio, a crew member from Spain and a member of the marine conservation NGO, Sea Shepherd
- Marco Van Rennes, a Dutch marine engineering student and crew member
Liam Cunningham, a Game of Thrones actor, attended the send-off ceremony in Sicily last Sunday.
Tom Watling9 June 2025 08:53
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