The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced Monday that the humanitarian aid ship “Madleen”, which included Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, was intercepted by the Israeli army while en route to Gaza. The incident occurred on June 9, 2025.

“Dialog was lost with the Madleen. The Israeli army has approached the ship,” the coalition stated via Telegram, adding that the crew was “kidnapped by Israeli forces.”

The “Madleen”, a sailboat belonging to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), departed from Italy on June 1 with the intention of delivering aid to Gaza. According to last reports, the ship was approximately 31 nautical miles (57 km) from Gaza.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated,”I have instructed the Army to prevent the arrival of Gaza from ‘Madleen’,” adding,”A greta the anti -Semitic and her companions,spokesmen of the propaganda of [el movimiento islamista palestino] Hamás,I tell you clearly: Get out,because they will not get to Gaza.”

The ship carried citizens from Germany, France, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands. The activists aimed to reach the Gaza Strip on Monday morning.

French politician Rima Hassan, also on board, mentioned that over 200 European legislators signed an open letter to Israel, requesting that the “Madleen” be allowed to reach Gaza and deliver its humanitarian cargo. “We are going to continue mobilized until the last minute, until Israel cuts the internet and networks,” Hassan told AFP.

In May, another ship from the Freedom Flotilla was reportedly attacked by drones.

Civil defense sources in Gaza reported that Israeli attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people on Sunday. These individuals were reportedly heading to an aid distribution center west of Rafah, managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

UN Criticism of Gaza humanitarian Foundation

“Communication was lost with the Madleen. The Israeli army has approached the ship,”

The gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has faced criticism from the UN and various humanitarian organizations due to its opaque financing, which is supported by the United States and Israel. These organizations have declined to collaborate with the GHF.

The Israeli army stated that its forces fired upon individuals who “continued advancing so that they endangered the soldiers” despite prior warnings.

The GHF released a statement asserting that there were no incidents or injuries at any of the three sites managed by the agency. The GHF also claimed to have distributed over one million meals, including more than 600,000 through direct community distribution via community leaders.

As late May, dozens of people have died near GHF distribution points, according to civil defense sources.

Images from AFPTV showed relatives mourning outside the Naser hospital,where the deceased were taken. One woman was seen sobbing next to her father’s body.

Um Ghasan,a displaced Palestinian woman in Gaza City,told AFP that she avoids GHF distribution points due to overcrowding and frequent shootings. “I’m afraid to go, but there are people who risk their lives for their children and their families,” she said.

Civil defense also reported that five other people, including two girls, died in a night attack that struck a tent in the Al Mawasi displaced persons camp in southern Gaza.

Background of the Conflict

Hamas’s attack in Israel in October 2023 resulted in approximately 1,218 deaths on the Israeli side, primarily civilians, according to official data. Of the 251 people kidnapped during the attack, 55 remain captive in Gaza, with at least 31 confirmed dead by Israeli authorities.

The ongoing Israeli military operation has resulted in the deaths of over 54,880 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to data from the Gazan Ministry of Health, which is considered reliable by the UN.