Israeli naval forces boarded and seized a charity vessel carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, which had attempted to breach the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip today.The British-flagged yacht, Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, intended to deliver a symbolic quantity of aid to Gaza later that day and to raise international awareness regarding the humanitarian crisis in the region. “We have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel,” Thunberg, 22, stated in a video released by the FCC, recorded prior to the vessel’s capture.”I urge all my friends, family, and comrades to exert pressure on the Swedish government to secure my release and that of the others as soon as possible.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that the vessel was under Israeli control. Israel has labeled Thunberg an “antisemite” and dismissed the aid ship as a publicity stunt. “The ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries,” the ministry posted on X. It later added that all passengers were safe and unharmed: “They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.” Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who was also on board, shared on X that the crew had been “arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2 a.m.” A photograph depicted the crew seated on the boat, all wearing life jackets, with their hands raised.Israel’s foreign ministry subsequently circulated a photo showing Thunberg in a green hat and orange life vest. The yacht was carrying a small shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula. The Foreign Ministry stated that it would be delivered to Gaza.
