Climate activist deported following dramatic high-seas interception of pro-Palestinian flotilla in international waters
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been bundled onto a deportation flight from Israel after being detained at sea during a failed attempt to break the naval blockade of Gaza – but not before REFUSING to watch footage of Hamas’s October 7 atrocities.
The 22-year-old eco-warrior was among 12 activists intercepted by Israeli commandos aboard the British-flagged yacht Madleen in international waters early Monday morning as they attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to the war-torn Palestinian enclave.
According to Defense Minister Israel Katz, the activists refused to continue watching the film after seeing the brutality of the attacks. These antisemitic flotilla activists closed their eyes to the truth and once again proved they prefer the murderers over the victims,” Katz said.
The dramatic pre-dawn raid saw Israeli naval forces board the vessel approximately 185 kilometers off Gaza’s coast, with footage showing the activists – hands raised in surrender – being taken into custody.
OCTOBER 7 SCREENING SNUB
In a controversial move, “Greta [Thunberg] and her flotilla companions were taken into a room upon their arrival for a screening of the horror film of the October 7 massacre, and when they saw what it was about, they refused to continue watching,” Katz says in a statement.
The Israeli Defense Minister had specifically ordered military officials to show the activists unedited footage captured by Hamas terrorists’ body cameras during their brutal assault on southern Israel.
The antisemitic flotilla members are turning a blind eye to the truth and have proven once again that they prefer the murderers to the murdered and continue to ignore the atrocities committed by Hamas against Jewish and Israeli women, adults, and children,” Katz added in a scathing statement.
‘KIDNAPPED’ CLAIMS
Before her capture, Thunberg had recorded a dramatic video message claiming she had been “intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel.”
The young activist, who famously refuses to fly except in emergencies, urged her supporters to pressure the Swedish government for her release – though she was ultimately placed on a plane back to Europe within 24 hours of her detention.
Four of the activists are departing the country, including Greta Thunberg. However, eight have refused to leave and will be transferred to Givon detention facility.
SANDWICH SCANDAL
In a move that sparked fury among pro-Palestinian supporters, Israeli officials released photographs showing Thunberg – wearing her signature green hat and orange life vest – smiling as soldiers offered her sandwiches and bottled water aboard the intercepted vessel.
Israel’s foreign ministry later distributed a photo showing Thunberg in a green hat and orange life vest, smiling while a soldier held out a sandwich.
The Foreign Ministry mockingly referred to the vessel as a “selfie yacht” of the “celebrities” and dismissed the voyage as a publicity stunt.
HIGH-SEAS DRAMA
The Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had set sail from Sicily on June 1 carrying what organizers described as vital humanitarian supplies including baby formula, medical equipment, and rice.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said the Israeli military had “attacked” and “unlawfully boarded” the Madleen, which was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza where more than 2.1 million Palestinians face dire humanitarian conditions.
The vessel’s crew had been tracking their location publicly online, fully expecting potential interception by Israeli forces. We know that it’s a very risky mission and we know that previous experiences with flotillas like this have resulted in attacks, violence and even cases of death,” Thunberg told CNN on Saturday.
CELEBRITY CREW
Among those detained alongside Thunberg was French Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan, who has previously sparked controversy for her comments about the October 7 attacks, and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, known for his role in Game of Thrones.
Among those refusing to leave is French MEP Rima Hassan. Those who refused to sign voluntary departure forms face potential arrest and judicial deportation proceedings.
TRUMP WEIGHS IN
The incident even caught the attention of former US President Donald Trump, who dismissed Thunberg’s claims of being “kidnapped,” stating: “I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta.
BLOCKADE ENFORCEMENT
Defense Minister Katz defended the interception, declaring: “The State of Israel will not allow anyone to violate the maritime blockade on Gaza, whose primary goal is to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas—a murderous terrorist organization that holds our hostages and commits war crimes.”
Israel has maintained a naval blockade of Gaza since Hamas took control in 2007, citing security concerns and the need to prevent weapons smuggling to the militant group.
The dramatic incident marks yet another chapter in the long history of failed attempts to break Israel’s Gaza blockade by sea, with the most notorious being the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident that left nine Turkish activists dead.
As Thunberg wings her way back to Sweden, questions remain about whether this high-profile failure will deter future flotilla attempts – or inspire more celebrity activists to test Israel’s resolve in enforcing its controversial blockade.
