IDF Intercepts Gaza-Bound Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg: Israeli Forces Declare ‘The Show Is Over’
Israeli forces intercept aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and activists en route to Gaza, raising international concern.
Early Monday morning, Israeli forces intercepted and detained an aid boat bound for Gaza that was carrying high-profile activists, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. The vessel, named the Madleen, was diverted to Israel along with all its passengers, after the Israeli Navy declared that it had entered restricted waters off the coast of Gaza.
Footage released by Israeli authorities shows a Navy officer communicating with the activists aboard what officials described as a "selfie yacht." The officer can be seen informing the group that the maritime area off Gaza’s coast is closed to civilian traffic due to ongoing security concerns. The Navy instructed those on board that any aid deliveries must go through established humanitarian channels authorized by the Israeli government.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry emphasized that all passengers were "safe and unharmed" upon being taken into custody. The ministry reported that those detained were provided with food and water. In a terse statement, the ministry announced, "The show is over," underscoring Israel’s intention to halt what it characterized as unauthorized attempts to deliver aid in defiance of official protocols.
This development comes after Israel had publicly vowed to prevent the so-called Freedom Flotilla Coalition from reaching Gaza. The group’s mission was to deliver humanitarian supplies and draw international attention to conditions in Gaza. However, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the total aid on the vessel comprised less than a single truckload. Officials stated that any remaining aid not used by the activists themselves would be transferred to Gaza via formal humanitarian corridors.
Greta Thunberg, age 22, joined the voyage last week alongside eleven other activists. Notably, the passenger list included "Game of Thrones" actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassa, a prominent French member of the European Parliament with Palestinian heritage. The activists sailed under a Palestinian flag, highlighting the political dimension of their journey and their solidarity with civilians in Gaza.
In light of ongoing tensions and continuing conflict in the region, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has directed the military to screen footage of the October 7 attacks for flotilla participants, in an apparent effort to contextualize Israel's strict security measures around the coastal enclave.
The interception of the Madleen is the latest incident in a series of confrontations over access to Gaza. While Israel maintains it is committed to facilitating legitimate humanitarian aid, authorities remain firm in their resolve to tightly control all shipments into the territory, citing severe security threats posed by unsanctioned arrivals by sea.
