Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has arrived in France after being deported by Israel for attempting to break the country’s 18-year naval blockade of Gaza.
The 22-year-old activist told reporters in France that Israel had violated international waters by intercepting the Gaza-bound, UK-flagged Madleen that she and 11 other activists had sailed from Sicily to the Egyptian coast.
“I was very clear in my testimony that we were kidnapped on international waters and brought against our own will into Israel,” she said.
She laughed off criticism from Donald Trump, who had described her as an angry person, saying: “I think the world needs a lot more young angry women to be honest, especially with everything going on right now.”
At least five of the 12 activists arrested on board the Madleen flotilla are expected to be deported on Tuesday, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan.
The group were picked up off the coast of Egypt earlier on Monday morning and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where they were detained. They had been attempting to take a symbolic amount of aid into Gaza.
Read More
Israel intercepts Gaza-bound Madleen
- Greta Thunberg arrives in Paris after being deported by Israel
- UK to sanction two far-right Israeli ministers
- Why was the Madleen sailing to Gaza?
Greta Thunberg accuses Israel of war crimes
18:59
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Andy Gregory
Greta Thunberg has accused Israel of systematic war crimes against Palestinians
Speaking to reporters after arriving in Paris, the activist said: “The real story is that there is a genocide going on in Gaza and a systematic starvation following the siege and blockade now, which is leading to food, medicine, water that are desperately needed to get into Gaza is prevented from doing so.
“But of course there are many attempts like this mission both by sea and land to break that siege and open up a humanitarian corridor.”
“This is a continued violation of international law and war crimes that Israel is systematically committing against Palestinians by not letting aid come to starving people, and mass slaughtering in every possible way,” the 22-year-old Swede said.
She added: “We were 12 peaceful volunteers sailing on a civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid on international waters. We did not break laws. We did nothing wrong.”
'Why my friend Greta had no choice but to sail to Gaza'
18:00
,
Daniel Keane
Climate campaigner Scarlett Westbrook has written a piece for The Independent about her first experience of meeting Greta Thunberg when she was a teenager.
“Rather than being a "selfie boat", it is truly "selfless", as the crew have put their lives on the line in an effort to bring aid to the most vulnerable people on the planet,” she writes of the Madleen.
You can read her full piece below.
Netanyahu says 'significant progress' made in talks to release hostages
17:30
,
Daniel Keane
Meanwhile in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there had been “significant progress” in efforts to secure the remaining hostages in Gaza.
But he said in a video statement that it was “too soon” to hope that a deal could be struck to ensure their safe return to Israel.
Israel's leadership has said that it would wage war until the remaining 55 hostages held in Gaza are freed and when Hamas, whose October 2023 attack sparked the war, has been dismantled.
A brief history of Trump's clashes with Thunberg
17:00
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Daniel Keane
Donald Trump’s claim that Greta Thunberg is an “angry” person is not the first time that the pair have clashed publicly.
During a conference in 2019, the US President sarcastically described the then 16-year-old as a “very happy young girl” after she delivered a speech on climate change at the United Nations.
Mr Trump also took aim at her later that year after she was named Time magazine’s person of the year, claiming she should “work on her anger management problem”.
Greta Thunberg hits back at Donald Trump after criticism
16:30
,
Daniel Keane
Greta Thunberg has laughed off criticism from Donald Trump, who had described her as an angry person.
She told reporters after arriving in Paris: “I think the world needs a lot more young angry women to be honest, especially with everything going on right now.”
It came after Mr Trump described her as a “strange” and “angry” person when asked about her mission to deliver aid to Gaza on the Madleen ship.
Greta Thunberg says she was 'kidnapped' by Israel in international waters
16:00
,
Tom Watling
In pictures: Greta Thunberg arrives in Paris
15:47
,
Tom Watling
We have some more comments from Greta Thunberg
15:27
,
Tom Watling
We have some more comments from Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on the Israeli capture of her Gaza-bound vessel Madleen.
Ms Thunberg arrived in Paris today after being deported by Israel this morning. She is expected to travel to Sweden later.
Speaking upon arrival at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, Ms Thunberg called for the release of the other activists who were detained aboard the Freedom Flotilla.
She described a “quite chaotic and uncertain” situation during the detention.
The activist added that the conditions they faced “are absolutely nothing compared to what people are going through in Palestine and especially Gaza right now”.
“We were well aware of the risks of this mission,” Ms Thunberg added. “The aim was to get to Gaza and to be able to distribute the aid.”
UK confirms sanctions against Israel's Ben-Gvir and Smotrich
15:26
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Tom Watling
Britain confirmed on Tuesday that it had sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, in response to what it called their incitement of violence against Palestinian communities.
“Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now to hold those responsible to account,” British foreign minister David Lammy said in a statement.
Toribio says Israel detained them in neutral waters
15:03
,
Tom Watling
As promised, we have some quotes from Spanish activist Sergio Toribio, who arrived in Barcelona this morning after being deported by Israel.
Toribio was one of 12 activists aboard the Madleen who were picked up by Israel off the coast of Egypt while attempting to break the naval blockade on Gaza.
“If we were in international waters, we couldn’t be in any military zone. When they attacked us, before they arrived, when we could already see they wanted to board, the marine emergency services were alerted. These are international waters. There is no military base, nor a military zone,” said Mr Toribio.
“They held us on the boat, they monitored us quite well, you have to bear in mind. A unit of 12 people, they are professionals.
“The doctor came, they checked all of us, and they gave us water, food. They put all of us on deck to keep an eye on us, and they kept us there for nearly half a day until the sun started to rise.”
Israeli far-right ministers respond to UK sanctions announcement
14:44
,
Tom Watling
Israeli far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir have responded to a report that the UK is about to sanction them.
The foreign ministry has not elaborated on why the pair are being sanctioned, but both ministers have talked about cleansing Gaza of Palestinians and supporting illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Security minister Ben-Gvir said he had “contempt” for the sanctions package and compared it to the 1939 UK policy paper limiting Jewish immigration to Mandatory Palestine.
“We survived Pharaoh, we will also survive Keir Starmer,” he said in a statement. “I will continue to work for Israel and the people of Israel without fear or intimidation!”
At a dedication ceremony for a new settlement near Hebron, finance minister Smotrich also called the decision “a White Paper.”
“Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland and we will not allow it to do so again,” he said. “We are determined to continue building.”
Spanish Madleen activist arrives in Barcelona
14:28
,
Tom Watling
Spanish activist Sergio Toribio has arrived in Barcelona after being deported by Israel.
Toribio was among 12 activists detained by Israel after attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
We will bring you some quotes from Toribio shortly.
Thunberg responds to Israeli claims that the Madleen trip was a PR stunt
14:18
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Tom Watling
Greta Thunberg has responded to claims by the Israeli defence minister that the Madleen’s attempt to break Israel’s 18-year naval blockade of Gaza was a PR stunt.
Speaking to reporters in a Paris airport, she said Israel Katz’s remarks were “ironical … given their propaganda videos”.
Israel has frequently posted videos of its exploits in Gaza, as well as using advertising space on platforms such as YouTube to claim the United Nations is complicit in Hamas’ attacks on October 7.
UK will sanction Israel ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, Times reports
14:07
Britain and other international allies will formally sanction two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, following their conduct over the war in Gaza, The Times reported on Tuesday.
London will join Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other nations in freezing the assets and imposing travel bans on Israel's national security minister Ben-Gvir - a West Bank settler - and finance minister Smotrich.
Britain's foreign office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
Thunberg arrives in Paris
13:49
,
Tom Watling
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has arrived in Paris, en route to Sweden, after she was deported by Israel.
The 22-year-old was detained by Israel off the coast of Egypt while attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza early Monday morning. She was put on a plane to France this morning.
Upon arriving at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, she told reporters that Israel violated international law by detaining her ship, the Madleen, outside of Israeli-controlled waters.
“We were kidnapped in international waters,” she said, repeating a phrase she included in her pre-recorded SOS message that was released immediately after her detention on Monday.
Iranian lawmakers accuse US and Israel of planning nuclear talks trap
13:43
,
Tom Watling
The United States and Israel are seeking to turn nuclear talks into a "strategic trap" for Iran, Iranian lawmakers said in a statement on Tuesday, days before a planned sixth round of Iran-US nuclear talks.
Recap: Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg intercepted as Israel says ‘show is over’
13:14
,
Tom Watling
Read below our full piece on what happened yesterday as Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound boat full of activists, including Greta Thunberg.
UNRWA chief: Another day of aid distribution, another day of death trap
12:47
,
Tom Watling
The chief of the United Nations agency focused on Palestinian refugees has reiterated calls for an end to the current means of administering aid in Gaza, following reports that at least 17 people were killed near a distribution point.
“Another day of aid distribution, another day of death traps,” Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X.
“Day after day, casualties & scores of injured are reported at distribution points manned by Israel & private security companies.
“This humiliating system continues to force thousands of hungry & desperate people to walk for tens of miles excluding the most vulnerable & those living too far. This system does not intend to address hunger.”
His comments come as Palestinian health officials reported that at least 17 people had been killed and dozens more wounded as thousands of displaced people approached an aid distribution site of a US-backed humanitarian group in central Gaza on Tuesday.
You can read more about that story further down our blog.
#Gaza, another day of aid distribution another day of death traps.
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) June 10, 2025
Day after day, casualties & scores of injured are reported at distribution points manned by Israel & private security companies.
This humiliating system continues to force thousands of hungry & desperate people…
French FM: Two of six French Madleen activists to return to France
12:37
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Tom Watling
Two of the six French activists detained by Israel on board the Gaza-bound Madleen will head back to France, the French foreign minister has said.
Jean-Noel Barrot did not name the two activists. He previously said only one of the six activists had agreed to return home.
The rest are refusing to sign their deportation papers and will have to go through a formal detention process in Israel.
France says it obtains Palestinian reform pledge ahead of conference
12:00
,
Tom Watling
France said on Tuesday it had obtained new commitments from the Palestinian Authority to reform, ahead of a conference next week at which Paris could become the most prominent Western power to back recognition of an independent Palestinian state.
President Emmanuel Macron has received a letter from Mahmoud Abbas in which the Palestinian president condemns the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack against Israel, calls on all hostages to be released and pledges further reforms, the Elysee said.
Abbas, 89, has headed the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority since the death of veteran leader Yasser Arafat in 2004.
The PA exercises limited self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank but lost control of Gaza to its rival Hamas in 2007. It has previously condemned Hamas for the attack that provoked the Gaza war and has called for the militant group to be disarmed in a future settlement.
The letter to Macron, who is working on organising an international conference with Saudi Arabia to discuss recognition of Palestine, contains “unprecedented” pledges, Macron's office said, without elaborating.
“Hamas will no longer rule Gaza and must hand over its weapons and military capabilities to the Palestinian Security Forces, which will oversee their removal outside the Occupied Palestinian territory, with Arab and international support,” the French leader's office quoted Abbas as having written in the letter.
Trump on Greta Thunberg days after activist detained in Israel
11:38
,
Tom Watling
Greta Thunberg accuses Israel of ‘kidnap’ while carrying aid for Gaza
10:58
,
Tom Watling
Israeli gunfire kills 17 people near aid site
10:36
,
Daniel Keane
Israeli gunfire killed at least 17 Palestinians and wounded dozens at an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) on Tuesday, local health authorities said.
Medics said the casualties were rushed at two hospitals, the Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, and the Al-Quds in Gaza City, in the north.
Last week it warned Palestinians not to approach routes leading to sites of GHF between 6 pm. and 6 am local time, describing these roads as closed military zones.
Recap: Which Madleen activists have been deported and who remains in Israel?
10:02
,
Tom Watling
As the story has developed this morning, at least two of the four activists that Israel says it is deporting today have been identified.
They include Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Spaniard Sergio Toribio.
The French foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, said one of the six French activists will also arrive in France today, though he did not identify them.
We know that French-Palestinian European Parliament member Rima Hassan has refused to sign her deportation papers, so she will remain in Israel in the meantime.
All those who have refused to sign their papers will be detained by Israel and await trial.
One French Madleen activist to return to France today
09:53
,
Tom Watling
One of the six French activists detained by Israel aboard the Madleen will return to France today, the country’s foreign minister has reported.
Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X that they were able to meet with the six nationals arrested by Israel off the coast of Egypt as they attempted to break Israel’s 18-year naval blockade of Gaza. French authorities met with the activists near the port of Ashdod.
Mr Barrot confirmed that one of the six had signed their deportation papers and would be heading back to France today. The remaining five “will be subject to a forced expulsion process”.
Spanish Madleen activist to arrive in Barcelona on Tuesday morning
09:39
,
Tom Watling
Spanish activist Sergio Toribio will arrive in Barcelona on Tuesday morning, local media reports.
Toribio is among 12 activists who were detained aboard the Madleen flotilla off the coast of Egypt as it attempted to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
Legal representatives for the activists said four of their clients would be deported back to their home countries today, while eight others had refused to sign their deportation papers and so would remain in Israel.
They did not, however, name the four activists who had signed their papers.
Spanish publication El Pais reports that Toribio is among those four, while Israel’s foreign ministry posted pictures of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on board a plane home, via France, this morning.
Israel says Greta Thunberg is being deported after Gaza-bound ship she was on was seized
09:18
,
Tom Watling
Earlier, we reported that Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg had been deported to Sweden by Israel.
Read our full piece on this below.
We have the latest update from Adalah
08:55
,
Tom Watling
We have the latest update from the Madleen activists’ legal representatives, the human rights group Adalah.
In a statement to the media, Adalah said: “Yesterday, Adalah lawyers met with 11 of the 12 detained volunteers who were on board the Madleen. Israeli authorities allowed those who consented to deportation to fly out of Tel Aviv.
“Four of the volunteers have left or are on their way to their home countries. The remaining eight are still detained and will contest their deportation before an Israeli tribunal.
“These volunteers are expected to be brought before the Immigration Detention Review Tribunal this morning. Adalah lawyers are currently en route to Givon Prison in Ramleh, where the volunteers are being held, to represent them at the hearings.”
Thunberg boards plane to Sweden
08:36
,
Tom Watling
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has boarded a plane to Sweden, the Israeli foreign ministry has said.
The ministry posted two photos of the 22-year-old activist on board a plane.
“Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France),” they wrote.
Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France). pic.twitter.com/kWrI9KVoqX
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025
Madleen activists meet legal representatives
08:30
,
Tom Watling
The 12 Madleen activists detained in Israel have met their legal representatives, The Independent can confirm.
Earlier, we reported that the human rights organisation Adalah, representing the Madleen activists, had been unable to meet with their clients despite making “multiple requests” to the Israeli prison officials overseeing the case.
A representative at Adalah has now confirmed that they met with the activists.
We will bring you more as this story develops.
Eight of the Madleen activists refused to sign deportation papers
08:01
Eight of the 12 activists detained aboard the Madleen and transported to Israel are refusing to sign their deportation papers, local media is reporting.
Israel intercepted the Gaza-bound Madleen in the early hours of Monday off the coast of Egypt, as they attempted to break Israel’s 18-year naval blockade of the enclave.
Israeli officials said the activists would be detained at the port of Ashdod and deported immediately to their respective countries.
But Israeli broadcaster Kan says eight of the activists are refusing to sign their deportation papers.
Suhad Bishara, the legal director at Adalah, a Palestinian-run legal centre in Israel representing the detained activists, said some of them may “not agree to fly without a legal consultation, because the assumption is that they will have to need to sign some documents”.
“In this case, they will be moved to a detention centre in Ramleh, awaiting a tribunal for immigration,” Bishara said.
Legal team of detained activists allowed to meet them at airport
07:24
,
Namita Singh
The legal team of the activists aboard the ship Madleen will be allowed to meet their representatives, nearly 24 hours after the Israeli officials detained them.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was among a dozen activists who were part of the aid ship carrying food, which was aiming to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, before it was seized in international waters and towed to Ashdod Port.
Adalah, a human rights organisation in Israel, said they expected to meet the activists shortly, but only after they issued multiple requests to the Israeli authorities.
“After multiple requests to meet with the volunteers, Adalah’s legal team has arrived at the airport and is expected to meet with them shortly,” they said in a statement.
Israeli navy strikes Yemen’s port of Hodeidah, army radio says
07:01
,
Namita Singh
The Israeli navy carried out attacks on Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Israeli army radio said on Tuesday, in an ongoing campaign that usually involves airstrikes.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said Israel targeted the docks of Al Hodeidah port with two strikes.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The strikes come after the Israeli military on Monday urged the evacuation of the Houthi-controlled ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif.
Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have fired at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea in what it says are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Most of the dozens of missiles and drones fired towards Israel have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.
Israel has severely weakened other allies of Iran in the region - Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The Tehran-backed Houthis and pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq are still standing.
Trump says Iran is involved in Gaza hostage negotiations
06:55
,
Namita Singh
US president Donald Trump said on Monday Iran is involved in negotiations aimed at arranging a ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas.
"Gaza right now is in the midst of a massive negotiation between us and Hamas and Israel, and Iran actually is involved, and we'll see what's going to happen with Gaza. We want to get the hostages back," Trump told reporters during an event in the White House State Dining Room.
The United States has proposed a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israel said it would abide by the terms but Hamas thus far has rejected the plan.
Under the proposal 28 Israeli hostages - alive and dead - would be released in the first week, in exchange for the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians.
The United States and Iran are also separately trying to negotiate a deal on Tehran's nuclear program.
300 UK foreign office staff told to consider leaving over disagreement with Gaza
06:40
,
Namita Singh
The foreign office staff workers were told to consider resigning after they raised concerns over UK’s potential “complicity” in Israel’s war on Gaza.
In a letter to foreign secretary David Lammy last month, the officials questioned UK's continued arms sales and what they called a "stark… disregard for international law" by Israel, reported BBC.
In reply to the letter, sent from Sir Oliver Robbins and Nick Dyer, the senior civil servants in foreign office, the signatories were told: “[I]f your disagreement with any aspect of government policy or action is profound your ultimate recourse is to resign from the Civil Service. This is an honourable course."
UN says most flour delivered in Gaza looted or taken by starving people
06:37
,
Namita Singh
The United Nations said on Monday that it has only been able to bring minimal flour into Gaza since Israel lifted an aid blockade three weeks ago and that has mostly been looted by armed gangs or taken by starving Palestinians.
The organisation has transported 4,600 metric tonnes of wheat flour into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, the only entry point Israel allows it to use, deputy UN spokesperson Fahan Haq told reporters.
Mr Haq said aid groups in Gaza estimate that between 8,000 and 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat flour were needed to give each family in Gaza a bag of flour and "ease the pressure on markets and reduce desperation”.
"Most of it was taken by desperate, starving people before the supplies reached their destinations. In some cases, the supplies were looted by armed gangs," Mr Haq said.
According to World Food Programme guidelines, 4,600 metric tonnes of flour would provide roughly eight days’ worth of bread for Gaza’s 2 million residents, based on a standard daily ration of 300 grams per person.
Mr Haq called for Israel to let in far more aid via multiple crossings and routes.
Israel strikes Yemen's port city of Hodeidah
06:02
,
Namita Singh
Yemen's Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported on Tuesday that Israeli forces were conducting strikes on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.
The report follows a statement from the Israeli military's Arabic spokesperson late on Monday, posted on X, urging the evacuation of the Houthi-controlled Yemeni ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah and Salif.
No immediate confirmation of the strikes was available from Israeli authorities.
Israel detains activist on Gaza flotilla for deportation
05:04
,
Namita Singh
The activists and journalist detained from the Madleen have “arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries”, Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement on X.
The ministry announced that they were “expected to leave within the next few hours”.
The passengers of the “Selfie Yacht” arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries.
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025
Some of the “Selfie Yacht” passengers are expected to leave within the next few hours.
Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will… pic.twitter.com/szEHmd0rS0
“Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation. Consuls from the passengers’ home countries met them at the airport,” it added.
Israel kills three rescuers, journalist in strikes on Gaza city, Palestinian media report
05:02
,
Namita Singh
Israel killed three medical services staff and a journalist during strikes on Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, Palestinian media including Hamas-linked Shehab news agency said on Monday.
The three rescuers were killed while working to save wounded people and recover dead bodies in the neighborhood, Shehab reported.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It said earlier that its forces continued to operate against what it deemed "terrorist organizations" throughout the Gaza strip.
Israel detains Greta Thunberg – reports
04:38
,
Namita Singh
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has been detained along with 11 crew members of Madleen, reported Al Jazeera, quoting their lawyer.
The aid ship carrying food was aiming to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, before it was seized in international waters and towed at Ashdod Port.
Security ‘failings’ raised in parliament after peers ‘harassed’ at Gaza protest
04:29
,
Namita Singh
Concerns have been raised at Westminster over security "failings" after reports of peers being jostled and harassed at a Gaza protest outside parliament.
Disabled members of the House of Lords were among those targeted during last Wednesday's demonstration, the upper chamber heard.
Responding, foreign minister Lord Collins of Highbury condemned such behaviour and said it was "not acceptable".
The protest coincided with calls in the Commons led by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for an Iraq War-style inquiry into any UK involvement in the current Middle East conflict.
The Israeli offensive on the Palestinian territory was launched after Hamas carried out an attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023. Around 1,200 people were killed during the attack and more than 250 were taken captive.
Israel's war has killed over 54,000 Palestinians in the enclave, according to the Gaza health ministry, and triggered a humanitarian crisis with warnings of famine in the face of Israel imposing restrictions on aid.
There have been a series of deadly shootings by Israeli soldiers reported in Gaza since the rollout of a new food distribution system, backed by Israel and run by mainly American contractors.
Watch | Greta Thunberg 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' in international waters while carrying aid for Gaza
04:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
An 18-year blockade
03:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of a blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.
Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's Palestinian population.
Israel sealed off Gaza from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, but later relented under US pressure.
In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine.
Why was the Madleen sailing to Gaza?
02:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
The 12-person Madleen set sail for Gaza eight days ago from the port of Catania in Sicily.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), responsible for the boat, said the trip aimed “to break Israel’s more than 17-year illegal and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip”.
The ship’s location was being monitored live by Forensic Architecture using a Garmin live tracker on board before that tracker was switched off when Israel intercepted the vessel.
Speaking aboard the Madleen last week, Ms Thunberg told Middle East Eye: “We have promised ourselves and we have promised the Palestinian people to do everything we can.
“When our governments are failing us … then it falls on us to step up and be the adults in the room.
“We are just human be