Israel detains Dutch captain, Greta Thunberg, and activists on Gaza aid ship
The Israeli military has taken control of the Madleen, a sailboat carrying activists and a small amount of aid bound for the Gaza Strip, after intercepting the vessel in international waters Sunday evening. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage, says Israeli forces boarded the ship violently and without legal authority, according to De Telegraaf. The group reports that all on board, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Dutch captain Mark van Rennes, are now in Israeli custody.
The Madleen departed from Sicily last Saturday with a symbolic cargo of baby food, flour, rice, and medical supplies. French-Palestinian politician and activist Rima Hassan said the limited supplies were primarily intended to draw international attention to the ongoing blockade of Gaza. "We wanted to keep all eyes on Gaza," Thunberg told Dutch broadcaster NOS before contact was lost.
According to a statement issued Monday by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the vessel has been redirected to the Israeli coast. The ministry said the activists are unharmed and will likely be repatriated to their home countries. “They are celebrities looking for selfies,” the ministry added, dismissing the operation as a media stunt.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition strongly condemned the interception. In a statement released overnight, the group said the ship was “unlawfully boarded” and its unarmed civilian crew “kidnapped.” The group said the vessel was seized while in international waters and accused Israeli forces of confiscating the humanitarian cargo, which they said included life-saving goods. “The ship was unlawfully boarded, the unarmed civilian crew abducted, and the cargo—baby formula, food, and medical supplies—was seized,” the statement read.
Earlier in the evening, the coalition had reported that the Madleen was surrounded by Israeli drones spraying an unknown white substance. They also alleged that the boat’s communication systems were jammed and that disturbing audio signals were broadcast over the radio.
Shortly after contact was lost, the coalition released several pre-recorded videos from the activists. In one, Thunberg says: “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel.” In another video, Dutch captain Mark van Rennes appeals directly to The Hague, urging the Dutch government to “push for my release and that of all other peaceful activists.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said Sunday evening that he had ordered the military to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza. Katz later confirmed that the operation had been carried out and added that all activists, including Thunberg, would be forced to watch footage of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks that left 1,200 people dead and around 200 taken hostage.
“It is appropriate that the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly what kind of terror group they are working for,” Katz said. “They must see the atrocities committed against women, the elderly, and children—atrocities Israel is fighting to prevent.”
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has also drawn criticism for the affiliations of some of those on board. Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, who was part of the Madleen crew, allegedly attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. Avila reportedly described the assassinated figure as a “beloved leader,” a “martyr,” and an “inspiration for people around the world.”
Another passenger, Yasemin Acar of Berlin, was reported by Bild to have celebrated Iran’s missile strike on Israel last fall by dancing in her kitchen. Acar is known in Germany for organizing mass anti-Israel protests. Also aboard was French politician Rima Hassan, who previously reportedly stated that the October 7 Hamas attacks constituted a “fully legitimate act of terror.”
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued a formal response to Van Rennes’ appeal.
