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Israel Detains Greta Thunberg After Intercepting Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel

Rerouted to Ashdod port for screening of October 7 Hamas attack footage, the detained Madleen crew is now the focus of global protests demanding their freedom.

Israel's foreign ministry released an image of Greta Thunberg being offered bread after her arrest at seat off the coast of Gaza, June 9, 2025. (Israeli Foreign Ministry handout)
Image
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg attends a solidarity with Palestine event on December 06, 2024 in Mannheim, Germany. Thunberg, who was a central figure in the global movement calling for action on climate change, has been outspoke in her support for Palestine ever since the Israeli invasion of Gaza following the Hamas massacres of Israelis in October, 2023. Her critics charge she has gone too far in her rhetoric and accuse her of antisemitism.

Overview

  • Israeli naval commandos intercepted the Madleen about 100 nautical miles from Gaza in the early hours of June 9, detaining its 12-member crew including Greta Thunberg and bringing the vessel to Ashdod port.
  • Defence Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to show the activists graphic footage of Hamas’s October 7 attacks upon their arrival in Israel.
  • Israel described the shipment of baby formula, food and medical supplies on board as “tiny” and said those goods would be rerouted to Gaza through established humanitarian channels.
  • Spain, Turkey, the UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese and Amnesty International have denounced the interception as a violation of international law and demanded the immediate release of the activists.
  • The operation highlights growing international friction over Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and the challenges of delivering aid amid the enclave’s humanitarian crisis.