Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza Ship Carrying Greta Thunberg
Israeli military forces intercepted a Gaza-bound humanitarian vessel on Monday, seizing control of a ship reportedly carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was en route to deliver medical supplies and aid to the Gaza Strip when it was boarded in international waters.
The Israeli military said the operation was in line with national security procedures.
Activist groups, however, called the seizure illegal and accused Israel of blocking vital humanitarian relief.
Thunberg, who has been vocal about Palestinian rights in recent months, was seen in a video aboard the ship waving a Palestinian flag before the vessel’s communication was cut off. Her current status remains unclear.
International condemnation was swift. Human rights groups and European officials demanded her immediate release and a transparent investigation into the raid.
The incident has added fresh urgency to global criticism of Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has intensified since renewed fighting began earlier this year. Protests erupted in several major cities following news of the boarding, with activists citing Thunberg’s detention as a symbol of the suppression of peaceful dissent.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the mission would continue despite the interception and called on international bodies to hold Israel accountable.
