Israeli forces intercepted a humanitarian vessel bound for Gaza early Monday, detaining Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others on board. The ship, organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, aimed to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver essential aid, including food and medical supplies.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organized the voyage, said that 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. It said the ship was seized in international waters about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Gaza.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry portrayed the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in an X post that “the ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel.”

It said the activists would return to their home countries and the aid would be sent to Gaza through established channels. It circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests.

Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani confirmed the vessel was en route to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The activists were expected to be processed in Ramle before being returned to their home countries.

The ship, Madleen, had departed from Sicily a week earlier, pausing to rescue four migrants fleeing the Libyan coast guard. Among the detainees was French European Parliament member Rima Hassan, who has been barred from entering Israel for her pro-Palestinian stance.

French President Emmanuel Macron has requested her release.

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated that her government had advised against traveling to Gaza for years and emphasized the travelers bore personal responsibility. She added that there were no immediate concerns for their safety.

Legal rights group Adalah condemned the seizure, arguing Israel had no legal authority to intercept the vessel in international waters, and called the detention of unarmed humanitarian activists a violation of international law.

Israeli officials criticised the mission’s scale and motives. “This wasn’t humanitarian aid. It’s Instagram activism,” said spokesperson David Mencer. He claimed Israel had delivered over 1,200 truckloads of aid in two weeks, far eclipsing what the flotilla carried.

This marks the second failed maritime attempt by the Freedom Flotilla in recent weeks. Last month, another of its vessels was reportedly struck by drones near Malta an attack the group attributed to Israel.

Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control in 2007. Israel argues it’s essential to block weapons from reaching Hamas, while critics call it collective punishment of Gaza’s 2 million residents.

The blockade tightened dramatically following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, in which militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

Israel’s military response has since killed over 54,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, and displaced nearly 90% of the population.

With ceasefire negotiations stalled, Gaza remains in humanitarian crisis.

Israel has vowed to continue its offensive until all hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled.

Erizia Rubyjeana

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