Greta Thunberg, the renowned Swedish climate and human rights activist, made headlines once again as she departed Israel on a flight to France on Tuesday. This departure followed her detention by Israeli forces, alongside fellow activists, aboard the Madleen aid ship, which was en route to deliver essential aid to Gaza.
According to a post shared by Israel’s foreign ministry on X, “Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France),” accompanied by two images of the young activist onboard the aircraft. At just 22 years old, Thunberg is widely recognized for her commitment to climate activism and has famously opted for sustainable travel methods, including a transatlantic sailing journey to a climate conference in New York in 2019.
On Monday, the Israeli authorities detained at least five of Thunberg's fellow crew members from the Madleen aid ship. These individuals have declined to agree to voluntary departure and will face deportation, as confirmed by France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot. He detailed in a post on X that “last night our consul was able to see the six French nationals who were arrested by the Israeli authorities. Their families have been contacted. One of them agreed to a voluntary departure and is expected to return today. The other five will be deported.”
Among those detained was Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament. Delphine Colard, a spokesperson for the European Parliament, noted that the President of the European Parliament had been in constant communication with Israeli officials to ensure the safety of Hassan and her companions aboard the Madleen.
In previous statements, Israel’s foreign ministry indicated that individuals refusing to sign deportation documents would be brought before judicial authorities to authorize their deportation. The crew of the Gaza-bound aid ship was intercepted early Monday morning and subsequently docked at the Israeli port of Ashdod later that evening, as reported by the Israeli foreign ministry.
The Madleen aid ship is associated with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an organization dedicated to challenging Israel's blockade of Gaza and attempting to deliver humanitarian aid by sea. The coalition has condemned the Israeli military's actions, claiming they unlawfully attacked and boarded the vessel. The situation is particularly dire in Gaza, where more than 600 days of conflict and an 11-week blockade have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis for the enclave's 2.1 million residents.
International organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized the detention of the activists. Amnesty's Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, stated, “The operation of intercepting and blocking the Madleen in the middle of the night and in international waters violates international law and puts the safety of those on the boat at risk.”
In a statement to CNN, Israeli officials maintained that they are acting in accordance with international law by preventing all vessels from entering the Gaza Strip. Israel has characterized the Madleen as a “selfie yacht” carrying “celebrities,” emphasizing their commitment to halting the aid boat from reaching its destination.
Since March 2, Israel has maintained a full humanitarian blockade of Gaza, cutting off access to food, medical supplies, and other essential aid to the territory's over 2 million inhabitants. Although some aid began trickling in by late May in response to mounting international pressure, humanitarian organizations have reported that the volume remains a mere fraction of what was once delivered prior to the conflict. This situation has led to warnings of an escalating humanitarian crisis and a rising risk of widespread famine, with a UN-backed report indicating that one in five people in Gaza are facing starvation.
In recent weeks, dozens of Palestinians have tragically lost their lives while attempting to secure aid from a new US-backed initiative, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which aims to replace the previous UN-led aid distribution system. The United Nations has cautioned that this new distribution mechanism has become a “death trap” for those in desperate need of food and assistance within the Gaza Strip.
