Greta Thunberg Held in Gaza Flotilla
Greta Thunberg Among Aid Flotilla Passengers Intercepted by Israel
A video released by Israel’s foreign ministry and verified by Reuters showed Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg surrounded by Israeli soldiers on the deck of a seized boat.
“Several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped, and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” the ministry said on X.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying medicine and food for Gaza, is made up of more than 40 civilian boats with nearly 500 passengers, including lawmakers, lawyers, and activists.
Claims of Abduction
Passengers shared videos on Telegram, holding up passports and saying they were taken to Israel against their will. They stressed their mission was non-violent and purely humanitarian.
The flotilla, which became a symbol of resistance to Israel’s blockade on Gaza, drew worldwide attention as it sailed across the Mediterranean. Countries such as Turkey, Spain, and Italy have deployed boats or drones to assist their nationals in need.
Global Reactions
Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s interception as an “act of terror” that endangered civilians.
In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro expelled Israel’s diplomatic mission after two Colombians were detained. He called the incident a “new international crime” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and canceled Colombia’s free trade deal with Israel.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also denounced the raid, confirming that eight Malaysians had been detained. “By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown utter contempt not only for Palestinian rights but also for the conscience of the world,” he said.
Protests and Strikes
The raid sparked protests in Italy and Colombia. Italian unions have called for a general strike in solidarity with the flotilla.
Israel’s Position
Israel’s navy said the flotilla was warned it was entering an active combat zone under a lawful blockade. Officials claimed they offered to transfer the aid through safe channels, but organizers refused.
Israeli Ambassador to Italy Jonathan Peled dismissed the mission as a political stunt: “The refusal to hand over aid shows the goal is not humanitarian, but provocative.”
Flotilla Continues
Organizers said 13 vessels had been intercepted by Thursday morning, but 30 boats were still heading toward Gaza, just 46 nautical miles away. They accused Israel of using water cannons, scrambling communications, and boarding ships illegally in international waters, but reported no casualties.
“This flotilla will continue undeterred,” they said in a statement.
Background
Israel has enforced a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized control in 2007. Attempts to break it by sea are not new. In 2010, nine activists were killed when Israeli forces boarded a flotilla of six ships. More recently, in June, Thunberg herself was detained with 11 others while aboard another pro-Palestinian vessel.
Israel’s current offensive began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. Since then, Gaza’s health authorities say more than 65,000 people have been killed in the enclave.
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