THE Israeli government has issued a statement after allegedly breaching international law by seizing an activist aid ship en route to Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship the Madleen was captured by Israel’s forces overnight, with activist Greta Thunberg, who was on board, saying in a statement that they had been “intercepted and kidnapped”.
In a video posted to social media, Thunberg said: “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel.
“I urge all my friends, family, and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible.”
SOS! the volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces. Greta Thunberg is a Swedish citizen. Pressure their foreign ministries and help us keep them safe! Web: https://t.co/uCGmx8sn8j X : @SweMFA FB : @SweMFA IG : swedishmfa#AllEyesOnMadeleen pic.twitter.com/76Myrg2Bnz
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 9, 2025
Other activists on board the ship also released statements through the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Yanis Mhamdi, a French journalist, said he had been “detained” by Israel while trying to do his job and called on colleagues in the media to push for his release.
In a statement, Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said the Madleen was being taken to the port of Ashdod, which is around 17 miles north of Gaza.
Katz said: "I congratulate the IDF for the quick and safe takeover of the 'Madleen' flotilla to prevent them from breaking the blockade and reaching the shores of Gaza.
"I instructed the IDF to show the flotilla passengers the video of the horrors of the October 7 massacre when they arrive at the port of Ashdod.
"It is appropriate that the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organisation they came to support and for whom they work is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself.
"The IDF will continue its war against the Hamas murderers with all its moral righteousness until they are subdued, all the hostages are released, and the security of the State of Israel is ensured."
Separately, Israel's foreign ministry called the boat a "selfie yacht”.
Greta Thunberg is currently on her way to Israel, safe and in good spirits. pic.twitter.com/pjWSr0lOsE
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025
It went on: "While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza.
"There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies.
"The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels."
The Madleen was reportedly flying the red ensign, the UK’s shipping flag. That means the UK Government retains jurisdiction over the ship even if it was in international waters.
The UK Government explained in 2022: “The UK as flag state has primary responsibility for the ship, including criminal jurisdiction, even when the ship is outside the UK’s territorial waters.
“If the ship leaves UK territorial waters and enters the high seas (international waters), the UK as flag state retains exclusive jurisdiction (subject to limited exceptions) for so long as the ship remains on the high seas.”
However, if the ship entered Israeli waters, then it may become subject to Israeli laws.
As the Madleen was reportedly intercepted and seized by Israeli forces in int'l waters, the UK gov must urgently seek full clarification and secure the immediate release of the vessel & its crew. The Madleen must be allowed to continue its lawful humanitarian mission to Gaza. https://t.co/7ZNIQWS6Tw
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) June 9, 2025
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, said: “As the Madleen was reportedly intercepted and seized by Israeli forces in international waters, the UK Government must urgently seek full clarification and secure the immediate release of the vessel and its crew.
“The Madleen must be allowed to continue its lawful humanitarian mission to Gaza.”
The activists had set out to protest against Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of some two million Palestinians at risk of famine.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organised the voyage, said the activists were “kidnapped by Israeli forces” while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory.
“The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies —confiscated,” it said in a statement.
Australian Green senator David Shoebridge said the seizure of the board was a “clear breach of international law".
The UK Government has been approached for comment.
Who is on board the Madleen?
There are twelve civilian crew members on board the ship, which is flying the UK flag.
The crew members are:
- Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate and social justice activist
- Baptise Andre, French physician
- Omar Faiad, French journalist with Al Jazeera
- Reva Viard, French climate activist
- Rima Hassan, French member of the European parliament, representing La France Insoumise party
- Yanis Mhamdi, French journalist with independent media outlet Blast
- Pascal Maurieras, French activist
- Suayb Ordu, Turkish activist
- Marco van Rennes, Dutch marine engineering student
- Sergio Toribio, Spanish crew member, a member of marine conservation NGO Sea Shepherd
- Thiago Avila, Brazilian journalist, social activist and politician
- Yasemin Acar, German activist of Kurdish descent
