Greta Thunberg, the 22-year-old Swedish climate activist, was deported from Israel on June 10, 2025, following the interception of her aid ship, The Madleen, by the Israeli military. The vessel, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), attempted to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza when it was stopped 185 kilometers west of the territory on June 9, 2025. Thunberg’s brief detention and subsequent deportation have ignited a heated debate over Israel’s maritime blockade and the delivery of aid to Gaza.
The Madleen set sail from Catania, Italy, on June 1, 2025, carrying baby formula and medicine for Gaza’s civilian population. The ship was intercepted in international waters, leading to the detention of Thunberg and 11 other activists from nations including France, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Turkey. Israeli authorities brought the group to Israel, where Thunberg was processed for deportation after a short stay, likely lasting only a few hours. She departed Tel Aviv on June 10, landing at Charles de Gaulle airport in France before continuing to her final destination, Sweden.
Thunberg condemned the interception, calling it “an illegal act by kidnapping us on international waters and against our will and bringing us to Israel.” She reiterated this stance in a video statement and interviews, including one with France 24 upon arriving in Paris. Her use of the term “kidnapping” has drawn both support from fellow activists and criticism from figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump, who mocked her claim.
Israel, however, defended the action as lawful under international law, citing its maritime blockade of Gaza, in place since 2007 to prevent weapon smuggling to Hamas. The Israeli government dubbed The Madleen the “Selfie Yacht,” a term activists criticized as belittling the mission’s humanitarian purpose. Officials stated that the seized aid would be redirected through “real humanitarian channels,” though the FFC has demanded immediate return and release of all detainees.
The interception occurs against the backdrop of a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the United Nations reports catastrophic hunger affecting 2.1 million people. The blockade, intensified after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages, has restricted aid flows, with deliveries halted on March 2, 2025, and partially resumed on March 16. Israel’s ongoing offensive has resulted in 54,927 reported deaths in Gaza, further escalating tensions over aid access.
Public responses have been polarized. Users on the social media platform X suggested Thunberg faced consequences for her actions, while @ShamaJunejo praised her efforts and decried the aid seizure. Six French nationals—including MEP Rima Hassan and journalists—were held, with five refusing deportation and now facing judicial proceedings, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
Thunberg’s swift deportation—she was in Israel for mere hours before departing Tel Aviv—marks the latest flashpoint in the ongoing struggle over Gaza’s blockade. As she returns to Sweden via France, the incident highlights the clash between humanitarian activism and Israel’s security measures, leaving the broader issues of aid delivery and the blockade’s legality unresolved. The fate of The Madleen’s cargo and the remaining detainees continues to fuel international debate.
