Israeli forces seize Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen, detain Greta Thunberg and crew in latest blockade crackdown
By isabelle // 2025-06-09
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  • Israeli forces intercepted the humanitarian ship Madleen in international waters, detaining activists including Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan.
  • Eyewitnesses reported drones spraying a "white liquid" before armed soldiers boarded, confiscated phones, and diverted the ship.
  • Israel has a history of violently suppressing aid missions, including past killings, sabotage, and arrests of activists.
  • Israeli officials staged propaganda, forcing detainees to watch Hamas attack footage while falsely claiming humane treatment.
  • Western governments remain silent despite global condemnation, enabling Israel’s blockade and violations of international law.
In yet another brazen violation of international law, Israeli naval commandos stormed the British-flagged humanitarian vessel Madleen early Monday, forcibly detaining 12 unarmed activists, including Swedish climate advocate Greta Thunberg and French politician Rima Hassan, as they attempted to deliver rice, baby formula, and medical supplies to Gaza’s starving population. The interception, which occurred roughly 100 nautical miles from Gaza in international waters, marks the latest escalation in Israel’s 18-year blockade of the Palestinian enclave, a policy condemned globally as illegal collective punishment. Eyewitness accounts describe Israeli drones spraying the ship with an unidentified “white liquid” before armed soldiers boarded, confiscated phones, and redirected the vessel to the port of Ashdod. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which organized the mission, condemned the raid as a “kidnapping” and accused Israel of sabotaging peaceful efforts to alleviate Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe.

A pattern of violent suppression

This is far from the first time Israel has attacked civilian-led aid missions. Since 2010, when Israeli forces killed 10 activists aboard the Mavi Marmara in a nighttime raid, the FFC has faced repeated sabotage, drone strikes, and armed interdictions. In 2011, Greek authorities, under alleged Israeli pressure, blocked ships from departing. In 2016, an all-female crew, including a Nobel laureate, was arrested. Last month, another FFC vessel, the Conscience, was disabled by a suspected Israeli drone near Malta. The Madleen’s interception follows a familiar script: unarmed civilians intercepted in international waters, aid confiscated, and activists deported after staged “hospitality” displays. Israeli officials released footage of soldiers handing Thunberg bread and water, cynically claiming she was “safe and in good spirits.” Yet a pre-recorded video from Thunberg tells a different story: “We have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters,” she declared, urging pressure on Sweden to secure their release.

Political theater and propaganda

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz openly admitted to weaponizing propaganda, ordering detained activists to watch footage of the October 7 Hamas attacks. “Antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-supporting friends should see exactly what the Hamas terrorist organization… truly is,” Katz posted on X. The remark underscores Israel’s strategy: conflating humanitarian aid with terrorism to justify its blockade, which has left Gaza’s 2.3 million residents in dire poverty, with malnutrition rates soaring. Turkey condemned the interception as a “heinous act” by a “terror state,” while Spain summoned Israel’s envoy in protest. France’s Leftist lawmakers called it a “clear violation of international law.”

Silence from the West

Despite Gaza’s Ministry of Health reporting over 54,880 Palestinians killed since October 2023, Western governments, particularly the U.S. and EU, remain conspicuously muted. No statements emerged from Germany, Brazil, or the Netherlands regarding their detained citizens. This complicity mirrors past flotilla crackdowns, where geopolitical alliances shielded Israel from accountability. The FFC, a coalition of groups from over a dozen countries, emphasizes nonviolent resistance. Yet Israel’s response, including pre-printed arrest lists, drone attacks, and forced reroutings, exposes a regime terrified of global attention to Gaza’s suffering. The Madleen’s mission was symbolic, carrying supplies dwarfed by Gaza’s needs. But its interception lays bare Israel’s determination to isolate Gaza at any cost, even if it means kidnapping unarmed activists in international waters. If the world continues to tolerate these acts, it signals open season on humanitarian efforts everywhere. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net AlJazeera.com ABCNews.go.com
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