UK media outlet LBC has sparked international outrage with a “reprehensible” report on Israel’s unlawful seizure of an activist aid ship headed to Gaza.
Overnight, Israel captured the Madleen ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had been headed to Gaza to deliver a “symbolic” amount of aid.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, French MEP Rima Hassan, and journalist Omar Faiad were among the 12 people on board, who were all detained by Israel, reportedly in international waters.
The ship was flying the UK red ensign, meaning it was under the UK Government’s jurisdiction, and Labour are facing calls to act.
Israel’s government labelled the aid mission a “selfie yacht” in a bid to undermine the activists and journalists, who had been aiming to highlight or even break the blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza, sparking fears of famine in the region.
Israel Katz, the country’s defence minister, said that the detained activists would be made to watch a film about the October 7 attacks after arriving in Ashdod, a port city some 17 miles north of Gaza.
Reporting on the developing situation, LBC published a story which began: “Israeli forces have put an end to Greta Thunberg's ‘Freedom Flotilla’ stunt.”
On social media, the story was shared with the caption: “Greta Thunberg's ‘selfie yacht’ stunt brought to an end as boat is intercepted – and Israel will force those on board to watch harrowing video of October 7.”
The framing has been widely criticised, including by human rights lawyers and activists.
This is the reprehensible level the British media has stooped to. An act of piracy and kidnapping described as this. Beyond parody. This is where we are. https://t.co/taA3gNtQjZ
— liam cunningham (@liamcunningham1) June 9, 2025
Irish actor Liam Cunningham, known for appearing in Game of Thrones, shared the LBC and wrote: “This is the reprehensible level the British media has stooped to. An act of piracy and kidnapping described as this.
“Beyond parody. This is where we are.”
Shoaib M Khan, a lawyer who chairs the Human Rights Lawyers Association, said: “Not that LBC has much credibility left now, but what a disgusting way of describing a genocidal regime forcibly taking over a British-flagged vessel and kidnapping the people trying to deliver aid.”
Zara Mohammed, the former general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “Cannot believe the framing of this from LBC, only when you click the article do you read these are the IDF lines…”
Author and journalist Ash Sarkar added: “This kind of editorial framing is the lowest of the low.
“It is fundamentally misleading (‘selfie yacht’), takes the position of the Israeli government as fact, and has virtually 0 informational content.
“Embarrassing from LBC.”
LBC has been approached for comment.
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.
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
“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.
Israel is illegally occupying Gaza and prevents any international media from entering the Palestinian region.
Since the Hamas attacks of October 7, Israel has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead.
Israel has also destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of the territory’s population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid.
It has announced plans to take control of the Palestinian land, which would represent further breaches of international law.
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
