Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Flotilla Featuring Greta Thunberg in International Waters
Date: June 9, 2025
Israeli naval forces intercepted a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla in international waters on Monday morning, detaining several activists, including renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg. Images circulating online depict activists in life jackets aboard the vessel, with one showing a tense confrontation involving Israeli commandos.
The flotilla, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), sought to deliver humanitarian aid and challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, established in 2007 to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas. According to UN data, over 90% of aid deliveries to Gaza are approved through coordinated land routes, yet the blockade remains a focal point of contention. The FFC, a coalition of global civil society groups, has a history of attempting to breach the blockade, notably during the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, where nine activists died, sparking global outcry and a UN investigation that criticized Israel’s use of force but upheld the blockade’s legality under international law.
The intercepted vessel carried activists and journalists from France, Sweden, Turkey, Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Germany. Thunberg’s involvement has amplified attention, with images showing her holding aid supplies alongside other detainees. The Israeli military has not issued an official statement, though previous responses to similar flotillas involved redirecting vessels to Ashdod for cargo inspection—a process consistently rejected by organizers.
This incident follows a reported drone attack on May 2, 2025, targeting another FFC vessel near Malta, which caused a fire and hull damage. Israel has not commented on that event. The ongoing Gaza conflict, which has displaced 1.9 million Palestinians according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has fueled demands to end the blockade, with critics arguing it constitutes collective punishment in violation of international humanitarian law—a claim Israel disputes.
Online reactions vary widely, from calls for militant action and dismantling of Israel to skepticism about the activists’ motives, with some suggesting their detention resulted from illegal entry attempts. The international community awaits further developments, with potential diplomatic consequences due to the diverse nationalities involved.
