‘Show is over’: IDF diverts Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg to Israel

All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over. pic.twitter.com/tLZZYcspJO

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025

The Israel Foreign Ministry, in a statement on X said “The “selfie yacht” of the “celebrities” is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries. All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.”

However, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of ‘forcibly intercepting’ the Madleen and acting with “total impunity”.  Describing the incident, the FFC stated their aid ship was “unlawfully boarded at about 3:02am CET, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo including baby formula, food and medical supplies confiscated.”

According to a Freedom Flotilla Coalition organiser, Huwaida Arraf “Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen.”

Greta Thunberg and other activists are enroute to Gaza on a boat carrying aid. (File Photo)

The 12-crew member aid ship, which was carrying Swedish climate campaigner Thunberg and French member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan was aiming to reach the shores of Gaza Strip with a handful of aid, when the Israeli military intercepted them and re-directed their route towards Israel. The small shipment of humanitarian aid being carried by Thunberg and crew, included rice and baby formula.

“The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2 am,” Hassan posted on X. The Israel had ordered a naval blockade on the coastal enclave in 2007 when Hamas took control of Gaza. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz earlier had ordered the military to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.

Countering Israel’s narrative, FFC alleged that the sea blockade is illegal and painted defence minister Katz’s statement as an example of Israel threatening the unlawful use of force against civilians and “attempting to justify that violence with smears,” BBC reported.

“We will not be intimidated. The world is watching. Israel has no right to obstruct our effort to reach Gaza,” said FFC Press Officer Hay Sha Wiya. The Israel’s naval blockade has remained in place during several conflicts, including the current one which started after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023 and killed about 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally. In response, Israel has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, a Gaza-run health ministry stated.