Gaza: A humanitarian aid vessel en route to Gaza has reportedly been intercepted by Israeli forces, according to statements from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).
The organisation behind the mission said on Telegram that it had lost contact with the ship, the Madleen, shortly before sharing an image of the passengers wearing life jackets with their hands raised, signaling distress or surrender.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry later confirmed the vessel had been redirected, stating the Madleen was “safely making its way to the shores of Israel” and that its passengers would be repatriated to their home countries. It also published footage on social media platform X, showing the Israeli navy issuing instructions to the aid boat, alongside another video depicting the passengers unharmed.
Alarm over the safety of those on board — which included climate activist Greta Thunberg — grew overnight after the FFC announced an alert had been triggered on the vessel. The group said the situation prompted the crew and activists to don life vests and prepare for an interception.
In a separate social media post, the coalition stated: “Alarm has been sounded on the Madleen. Life jackets are on, preparing for interception.”
UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said she had been in touch with the flotilla’s communication hub in Catania, Italy. She reported that the vessel had been surrounded by five Israeli ships, with two drones monitoring it from above.
The interception follows recent remarks by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who reiterated that the country would not permit any attempts to breach its naval blockade on Gaza, a measure Israel claims is vital to prevent arms shipments to Hamas. “To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — you will not reach Gaza,” Gallant stated.
The Madleen set sail from Sicily last Sunday, carrying 12 activists as part of an international effort to deliver humanitarian supplies and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, now in its second month following renewed conflict between Israel and Hamas.
This is not the first such attempt by the FFC. In May, another of its vessels sustained damage after being struck by two drones in international waters near Malta — an incident the group blamed on Israel, though Israeli authorities denied involvement.
The Madleen’s mission aimed not only to deliver essential goods but also to challenge Israel’s long-standing naval blockade, which humanitarian groups argue contributes to severe hardship in the Palestinian enclave.
