Israel Blocks Gaza Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg

A drone view shows the Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen.

Israeli forces intercepted a humanitarian aid boat headed for Gaza early Monday, preventing it from reaching the blockaded territory. Among the passengers on board was Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

The boat, Madleen, had departed from Italy on June 1 to draw attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where food shortages have reached critical levels. The mission aimed to deliver symbolic aid and highlight growing fears of famine after nearly two years of war.

The organizers said the boat was intercepted in international waters at around 3:00 a.m. Central European Time. A pre-recorded message from Thunberg stated, “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters.”

The vessel was redirected to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Israeli officials said the interception was necessary to uphold the naval blockade of Gaza, which they maintain to prevent the smuggling of weapons.

Images released after the interception showed the passengers in life jackets being provided with water and food. Officials said all those aboard were safe and would be returned to their home countries. They added that any aid on the boat would be rerouted to Gaza through official humanitarian channels.

Israel has faced growing international calls to allow more aid into Gaza. Though some humanitarian deliveries have recently resumed, concerns remain over the newly established Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the United States. The organization has faced criticism over its operations and lack of coordination with other aid groups.

On Sunday, at least 10 people were killed near a food distribution point in Rafah, including five civilians. Witnesses reported that the crowd had gathered to receive aid when Israeli forces opened fire. The military said troops responded to individuals who approached in a threatening manner despite warnings. The aid organization managing the site stated that no incident occurred at their facilities.

Also on Sunday, Israeli forces confirmed the death of Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas figure and younger brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. His body was found in a tunnel beneath a hospital in Khan Yunis. He was reportedly killed during a raid on May 13 and is believed to have taken over key leadership responsibilities after other commanders were killed in earlier strikes.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 54,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to health officials in the territory. On the Israeli side, over 1,200 people have been killed since the start of the war in 2023, the majority of them civilians.