Israeli authorities have initiated deportation proceedings for 12 international activists, including Swedish climate icon Greta Thunberg and a French Member of the European Parliament, after intercepting their vessel in international waters en route to Gaza. The ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s (FFC) Madleen mission, aimed to challenge the Israeli blockade on Gaza and deliver a message of solidarity amid worsening humanitarian conditions.
The boat departed from Sicily on June 1 and was seized approximately 200 kilometers from the Gaza coast early Monday. Israeli naval forces towed the vessel to Ashdod Port, and the activists were transferred to a detention facility near Ben Gurion Airport. According to Adalah, a Palestinian legal center representing the detainees, the group was taken against their will and had no intention of entering Israeli territory. The organization maintains that the seizure violates international law, as the Madleen was under a UK flag and headed for Palestinian waters.
Among those detained are journalists, aid workers, and political figures. A video released by the FFC shortly before contact was lost showed the activists surrendering peacefully with raised hands. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled the mission a “publicity stunt,” with a government spokesperson criticizing Thunberg for seeking attention rather than delivering aid.
Sweden and the UK have requested that Israel observe international legal norms, while French President Emmanuel Macron has demanded the immediate release of six French nationals aboard the vessel. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, condemned the interception, calling it unlawful and inhumane.
Protests have erupted in European cities including Paris, Berlin, and London, where demonstrators labeled the interception an act of piracy. Brussels activists urged the EU to take stronger action against Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007 and faces widespread international criticism.
The activists are currently undergoing medical assessments, with some expected to be deported within hours. Others may contest the proceedings through Israeli legal channels. Diplomats and lawyers are reportedly working to gain access to the detainees.
The incident has intensified global scrutiny of Israel’s blockade on Gaza, where over two million people are facing acute food shortages, destroyed infrastructure, and limited access to medical care. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition stressed that their mission was peaceful and meant to highlight the dire situation of civilians in the enclave.
As deportations proceed, international pressure continues to mount, with human rights organizations calling for accountability and urgent humanitarian relief for Gaza’s besieged population.
