Activists detained, aid confiscated—and the world fires back.
The world watched as climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 fellow activists aboard the Madleen were detained by Israeli forces early June 9, their Gaza-bound aid boat intercepted in international waters.
The mission, organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), aimed to deliver baby formula, food, and medical supplies to Palestinians under siege—a move Israel dismissed as a “public relations stunt” while activists decried it as a violation of international law.
Thunberg, wearing a Fontaines D.C. charity shirt in pre-recorded videos, had vowed to “break Israel’s siege,” but by dawn, the Madleen was commandeered, its cargo confiscated, and crew forcibly taken to Ashdod port.
“Kidnapped,” Thunberg declared in a released statement, urging global pressure for their release.
Celebrities like Cat Power and Nadine Shah amplified outrage, with Shah posting: “Solidarity to all onboard ✊🏽🇵🇸”.
Meanwhile, Israel’s defense minister accused Thunberg of “Hamas support,” promising detainees would watch footage of October 7 attacks—a move critics called psychological coercion.
As Spain summoned Israeli diplomats and the UN demanded action, the Madleen became a symbol of both humanitarian defiance and geopolitical friction.
