Israeli forces intercepted a British-flagged charity yacht attempting to breach the long-standing naval blockade of Gaza early Sunday morning, detaining its 12-member crew, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French European Parliament member Rima Hassan.

The vessel, named Madleen, was operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and had set out to deliver a symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid—mostly rice and baby formula—to the besieged enclave while drawing global attention to what organizers call a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

However, according to Reuters, the mission was cut short before the boat could reach the coast. According to a statement by the FFC on Telegram, the yacht was boarded around 2 a.m. while still in international waters. Israeli authorities confirmed they had assumed control of the vessel, which is now en route to an Israeli port.

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Israeli Officials Dismiss Mission as “Propaganda”

Describing the operation as a “publicity stunt,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry referred to the vessel as a “selfie yacht of the ‘celebrities’,” and announced that all passengers were safe, unharmed, and provided with food and water. “The show is over,” the ministry wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz justified the interception, saying the flotilla’s objective was “a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.” He had ordered the military in advance to prevent the Madleen from making landfall.

Israel has enforced a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, citing security concerns and the need to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas. The blockade has been tightened further amid the ongoing war that erupted after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed more than 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures.

Global Outcry Over Gaza Crisis

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly. The territory’s health ministry reports over 54,000 Palestinians have died during Israel’s military campaign, and the United Nations warns that much of Gaza’s population of over 2 million faces famine.

The Madleen’s intercepted voyage was the fourth maritime attempt to break the blockade since 2007. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had hoped to reignite global attention on the dire conditions in Gaza and challenge the legality of the blockade.

U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, voiced support for the flotilla and called for more such efforts. “Madleen‘s journey may have ended, but the mission isn’t over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid & solidarity to Gaza,” she posted on X.

Israeli officials said the aid aboard the Madleen, described as “tiny” and partly consumed by passengers, will be transferred to Gaza via approved humanitarian channels. There was no immediate comment from the FFC on the future of the vessel or the detained crew, but all passengers are expected to be repatriated.