Madleen Gaza flotilla seized by Israeli forces

Israeli forces have seized the Madleen Gaza flotilla, the charity vessel which was attempting to break a naval blockade of Gaza and carrying a crew of 12 including activist Greta Thunberg. The ship is now being taken to Israel, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), Madleen was set to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza today, raising international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there.

It was however boarded during the night, as was announced on the FFC’s Telegram account, which was later confirmed by the Israeli Foreign Ministry,

It said that the ship, referred to as a “selfie yacht”, had “safely making its way to the shores of Israel” and that the passengers "are expected to return to their home countries, and all were safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over."

According to Al-Jazeera, the Israeli government will force the crew to watch a compilation of videos of the October 7 attack once they reach Ashdod, and then it will deport them to their respective countries.

The crew also included Rima Hassan, a French European Parliamentary, who posted on X this morning: "The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2am."

The crew was arrested in international waters. pic.twitter.com/ydjA9yZHSC

— Rima Hassan (@RimaHas) June 9, 2025

Since the announcement, a number of reactions have poured in on social media. In a statement, Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry called the move a “clear violation of international law” that “once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state”.

“Israel’s aggressive and unlawful actions will not silence the voices that stand up for human dignity and universal values,” it added.

Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International, said that Israel’s interception of the Madleen “violates international law”.

“As the occupying power (as recognised by the ICJ), Israel has a legal obligation to ensure civilians in Gaza have sufficient food and medicine. They should have let Madleen deliver its humanitarian supplies to Gaza,” she posted on X.

She also called on States to do “far more than they have done to this date”.

“There is an on-going genocide. Military occupation. Apartheid. Palestinians in Gaza are starved. Humanitarian workers are targeted. Humanitarian aid is blocked,” she added.

#Madleen, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was seeking to bring humanitarian aid in an attempt to breach Israel’s illegal blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip. It was carrying unarmed civilians on a humanitarian mission.

Israel interception of Madleen violates… pic.twitter.com/h5QvMeYVqk

— Agnes Callamard (@AgnesCallamard) June 9, 2025

Spanish publication El Pais has reported that Israeli diplomats have been summoned to the country to protest Israel’s interception of the Madleen ship.

While the Israeli forces were seizing the Madleen ship, multiple raids were carried out in the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as seven arrests including two Palestinian children. Israeli soldiers also stormed the village of Silat al-Harithiya and the town of al-Yamoun.