Greta Thunberg Claims Abduction in International Waters, Forced to Port
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has claimed that the Israeli authorities apprehended her and other pro-Palestinian activists in international waters during their journey on the Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen.
Upon her arrival in France on Tuesday, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg stated to reporters that the Israeli authorities had breached “international maritime laws” through their interception of the vessel Madleen.
In her testimony, she stated unequivocally that they were forcibly taken while in international waters and transported against their will to an Israeli port.
She stressed that neither she nor her fellow activists had violated any laws and urged the Israeli authorities to promptly release the remaining members of the Gaza Flotilla.
Thunberg refuted allegations that the effort to deliver aid to Gaza through international waters was merely a public relations maneuver.
She also dismissed criticism from Trump, who had labeled her as an “angry person,” with a laugh.
She expressed her belief that the world could greatly benefit from more young, passionate women, particularly given the current global climate.
Thunberg characterized the situation surrounding her abduction as “quite chaotic and uncertain,” yet emphasized that the conditions she endured are insignificant compared to the dire circumstances faced by individuals in Palestine, particularly in Gaza at this time.
In a recent statement, Thunberg drew attention to what she described as the true narrative, emphasizing concerns of an ongoing genocide and systematic starvation in Gaza.
The Gaza Freedom Flotilla, a humanitarian maritime initiative orchestrated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), aimed to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and provide humanitarian aid to the region. The flotilla, headed by the UK-flagged ship Madleen, set sail from Catania, Sicily, on June 1.
In the early hours of Monday, June 9, Israeli forces intercepted, boarded, and seized the vessel Madleen in international waters, effectively preventing its arrival in the Gaza Strip and detaining the individuals on board.
The 12-member crew, which included European Parliament representative Rima Hassan alongside climate activist Greta Thunberg, was responsible for transporting essential supplies such as baby formula, crutches, diapers, flour, medical kits, and rice. Hassan reported on the contents of the cargo.
The recent flotilla followed a prior endeavor by the vessel Conscience, the former flotilla organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which aimed to breach the naval blockade surrounding Gaza.
On May 2, 2025, Israeli forces launched a projectile attack on the vessel Conscience in international waters near the Maltese coast.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports a significant toll as a result of the ongoing conflict, stating that at least 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli military actions began, with an additional 127,000 individuals injured, the majority of whom are children and women.
