An aid vessel carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and other international supporters was boarded by Israeli forces on Sunday. The ship, named Madleen, was en route to Gaza when it was intercepted, just hours after Israeli officials urged the crew to turn back. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced the boarding in a Telegram post, stating that the ship was unlawfully seized and its unarmed crew taken. The coalition described the cargo as life-saving supplies, including baby formula, food, and medical items.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had previously ordered the crew to abandon their mission, labeling Thunberg and her fellow activists as "antisemitic." Katz warned, "To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza. Israel will act decisively against any attempt to break the blockade or support terrorist organizations, whether by sea, air, or land."

Thunberg, 22, has been banned from entering Israel due to her outspoken views on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that communication with the Madleen was lost after the boarding. They shared a photo showing crew members with their hands raised and wearing life jackets, but no Israeli military personnel were visible in the image.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli Foreign Ministry released a video showing the Israeli Navy attempting to communicate with the Madleen. A soldier stated, "The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade. If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the [Israeli] port of Ashdod."

The activists aboard the Madleen aimed to deliver essential aid to Gaza's refugees, who have been suffering from severe shortages due to ongoing blockades. The United Nations has warned that the two million residents of Gaza are at risk of famine if aid is not allowed to enter soon.

The Madleen had set sail from Sicily a week prior and was expected to reach Gaza by Sunday. However, the crew faced threats from Israeli officials and experienced disruptions with their online tracking devices. In a previous incident in May, another aid ship from the same coalition was attacked by drones off the coast of Malta, although all passengers were safely evacuated.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has a history of attempting to breach the Israeli blockade. In 2010, a similar mission resulted in the deaths of nine activists when Israeli troops boarded their ship. The Israeli Defense Forces claimed they acted in self-defense during that incident.

As the situation unfolds, the coalition continues to advocate for humanitarian access to Gaza, emphasizing the dire need for aid among its residents.