This is the distressing moment Greta Thunberg pleads for assistance, claiming she and other activists "have been intercepted and kidnapped" in international waters.

Thunberg was among a group of 13 on board the British-flagged Madleen, sailing with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians. Their communication was cut when Israeli forces intercepted them in the Mediterranean Sea, reports the Mirror.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since confirmed the vessel's redirection to the port city of Ashdod, labelling it a "selfie yacht". The ministry criticised: "It is a media gimmick for publicity (which includes less than a single truckload of aid) - a 'selfie yacht'."

However, Greta, aged 22, conveyed an urgent plea in a video shared on social media following reports of the incident. She stated: "My name is Greta Thunberg, and I am from Sweden. If you see this video, we are being intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel."

She implored: "I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible."

It is believed that the video was pre-recorded in anticipation of such hostilities. When the incident occurred, the activists were instructed not to use their phones and allegedly had a "a white chemical" thrown at them. Some activists reported that their "eyes were burning" during the incident, thought to have taken place in the Mediterranean Sea.

However, the vessel was seized by Israeli authorities and taken to Ashdod at around 4:30 am local time. A spokesperson for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs then stated: "With recent reports of a 'celebrities yacht' heading to Gaza, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to clarify the following:".

"The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to unauthorised vessels under a legal naval blockade, consistent with international law. The yacht is claiming that it is delivering humanitarian aid. In fact, it is a media gimmick for publicity (which includes less than a single truckload of aid) - a 'selfie yacht'.

"Humanitarian aid is delivered regularly and effectively via different channels and routes, and is transferred through established distribution mechanisms. Over the past two weeks, more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza.

"The Gaza maritime zone remains an active conflict area, and Hamas has previously exploited sea routes for terrorist attacks, including the October 7th massacre. Unauthorised attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts. We call on all actors to act responsibly and to channel humanitarian aid through legitimate, coordinated mechanisms, not through provocation."

Get all the latest and breaking news in Yorkshire by signing up to our newsletter here.

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.