By: Fern Sidman

The Israeli Navy intercepted a vessel carrying international activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, as it attempted to breach the naval blockade around Gaza, The New York Post reported on Sunday. The boarding of the ship, named Madleen, occurred just hours after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly warned the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that their “antisemitic propaganda voyage” would not be tolerated.

The Madleen set sail from Sicily on June 1 with 12 passengers aboard and a cargo hold reportedly containing humanitarian supplies such as baby formula, medical items, and food staples including rice. The vessel’s stated mission, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Telegram post and public statements, was to provide aid directly to Gaza’s war-ravaged civilian population — a mission the Israeli government claims is a front for supporting Hamas and violating international maritime law.

On Sunday morning, Israeli naval forces approached the Madleen in international waters and issued a stern audio warning, recorded and later released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. “The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade,” an Israeli soldier declared through a loudspeaker. “If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the Israeli port of Ashdod.”

The New York Post reported that Defense Minister Katz accused Thunberg and her fellow activists of aiding Hamas by attempting to circumvent Israel’s approved aid channels. “To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza,” Katz said in a sharp rebuke.

Following Katz’s warning, Israeli special naval units boarded the ship without reported injury or resistance, according to initial IDF statements. The activists were taken into custody and transported to an undisclosed location for processing. The cargo — described by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as “life-saving” — was seized.

The coalition behind the voyage released a strongly worded statement shortly after the boarding, accusing Israeli forces of unlawfully detaining peaceful civilians and blocking essential aid. “The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated,” the group stated.

The coalition has long claimed that Israel’s blockade of Gaza, in place since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007, constitutes a form of collective punishment in violation of international law. The UN has repeatedly warned of the dire humanitarian crisis inside Gaza, with more than two million people facing severe food insecurity and potential famine.

The New York Post report emphasized that the situation is deteriorating rapidly as international aid shipments struggle to reach the enclave. UN officials have repeatedly called on Israel to allow greater access to Gaza’s civilian population, which has suffered under both Hamas governance and repeated conflicts.

This is not the first time that flotilla efforts have been forcibly intercepted. As The New York Post report recalled, a May aid vessel operated by the same coalition was reportedly attacked by drones near Malta, though no country claimed responsibility. The incident left the ship damaged but resulted in no injuries, and all 30 passengers were evacuated.

Most notably, in 2010, Israeli commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish vessel also part of a humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza. That operation resulted in the deaths of nine activists and a firestorm of international condemnation. The IDF maintained that their soldiers acted in self-defense after being assaulted upon boarding.

These past incidents have fueled accusations that Israel is weaponizing its blockade to stifle dissent and prevent aid from reaching Gazan civilians — a claim Israeli officials reject. “We will act decisively against any attempt to break the blockade or support terrorist organizations, whether by sea, air or land,” said Defense Minister Katz on Sunday, as quoted in The New York Post.

Greta Thunberg, the 22-year-old climate activist turned anti-war advocate, has been an increasingly vocal critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. She has posted numerous statements on social media accusing Israel of “genocide” and has participated in rallies and online campaigns supporting the Palestinian cause. As a result, she has been banned from entering Israel.

Her participation in the flotilla drew widespread media attention and further inflamed tensions. Israel’s Foreign Ministry has accused Thunberg of parroting “terrorist talking points,” and her image wearing a keffiyeh has circulated widely on Israeli news networks and social media.

Yet, Thunberg and her supporters argue that theirs is a moral and humanitarian effort. “Silence in the face of genocide is complicity,” she said in a pre-departure video message, urging global citizens to demand action for the people of Gaza.

According to the report in The New York Post, Israeli authorities have not yet announced whether criminal charges will be filed against the activists, or whether the aid will be rerouted through authorized channels. Meanwhile, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has vowed to continue its campaign, with new voyages reportedly in the planning stages.