Israeli forces took control of a charity vessel attempting to sail through the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, officials said on Sunday, the 8th of June. The yacht with 12 crew members, including activist Greta Thunberg, is now being taken to an Israeli port, officials said, reports Reuters.
The yacht Madleen, which was sailing under a British flag and belongs to the pro-Palestinian organisation Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), had planned to deliver a small aid cargo to Gaza to draw world attention to the crisis in the region.
However, as the FFC announced on its Telegram account, the vessel was intercepted during the night before it reached the coast. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later confirmed that the ship was under Israeli control.
“Celebrity “selfie yacht” is heading safely towards Israeli shores. The passengers are likely to return to their home countries,” the ministry wrote on X.
All passengers are safe and there were no injuries, the ministry added later. “They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.”
The 12-strong crew includes Swedish climate activist Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan.
“The Freedom Flotilla crew was arrested in international waters at around two o’clock at night,” Hasan wrote on X. The photo shows the crew members sitting on the ship, all wearing life jackets and raising their hands in the air.
🚨BREAKING:
“Climate activist” Greta Thunberg and her Nazi friends threw their electronic devices into the water when Israeli forces showed up, adding to the pollution in the Mediterranean sea pic.twitter.com/IrIIE93Bu4
— The Uri (@uricohenisrael) June 9, 2025
The yacht was carrying a small humanitarian shipment, including rice and baby food. The Foreign Ministry announced that the consignment would be delivered to Gaza. “The small amount of aid that was on the yacht and was not consumed for “celebrity” purposes will be delivered to Gaza through genuine humanitarian channels,” the ministry said in a statement.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Sunday ordered the military to prevent the Madleen from reaching the Gaza Strip, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.
The blockade has been maintained during several conflicts, including the current war. The UN has warned that the majority of Gazans are facing or at risk of famine.