Greta Thunberg, the renowned Swedish climate activist, has issued a video message from the aid ship Madleen before it was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters.
The video, recorded in anticipation of possible detention, was released on social media by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the organization operating the vessel.
In the video, Thunberg states, “My name is Greta Thunberg. I am from Sweden. If you are watching this, it means we have been captured in international waters by the Israeli occupying forces or by forces supporting the occupation.” She goes on to appeal to her family, friends, and colleagues to pressure the Swedish government for her and her fellow activists’ immediate release.
The Madleen was carrying symbolic humanitarian aid for the besieged Gaza Strip, including medical supplies, flour, rice, baby formula, water purification kits, and other essentials. Alongside Thunberg, eleven other human rights defenders from various countries were on board, including French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan and activists from Germany, France, Brazil, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Spain.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that communication with the ship was lost after it was boarded by Israeli forces. A photo shared on Telegram shows the activists seated with hands raised and wearing life jackets, apparently under Israeli control.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry later confirmed that the ship had been taken to Ashdod port, mocking the mission as a “selfie yacht” of so-called celebrities, but stated that all passengers were safe and being provided with food and water.
The Madleen departed from Catania, Italy, on June 1 as part of a broader civil initiative to break the Israeli naval blockade on Gaza and raise global awareness about the humanitarian crisis. The Israeli blockade has been in place since 2007 and has intensified during the ongoing war following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel.
Despite the interception, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition maintains that its mission is far from over. UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese called on more countries and ports to support similar humanitarian efforts, stating: “Madleen’s journey may have ended, but the mission isn’t over.”
