Greta Thunberg on auxiliary ship: Israel stops protest in front of Gaza!

Greta Thunberg on auxiliary ship: Israel stops protest in front of Gaza!

Aschdod, Israel - On June 9, 2025, the "Madleen" sailboat broke up with a group of activists, including the well -known climate activist Greta Thunberg, to a controversial mission. Her goal was to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which has been blocked by Israel since 2007. The boat was loaded with relief goods, which were intended for about two million people in Gaza, including baby food and medical care. This campaign aroused significant media interest and was accompanied by several prominent participants who gave and reported numerous interviews. However, the ship was stopped by the Israeli Navy in international waters and dragged into the port of Aschdod, without resistance from the activists, in contrast to previous incidents such as the "Mavi Marmara" in 2010. General reports that Israel aimed to present a positive picture of his humanitarian commitment by supplying the activists with water and sandwiches.

The Israeli government had to prevent the “Madleen” arrival under the pretext of security and control over humanitarian aid. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ship's passengers were safe and intact after the interception campaign. Nevertheless, Israel described the ship as a "selfie yacht" and criticized the action as a media provocation. In addition to the reliefs, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition had spread videos in which the activists reported "kidnapping" by Israeli forces and asked for help. Thunberg explained in a video that they were intercepted in international waters.

reactions to the action

The reactions to the campaign were diverse. Activists and Israel themselves were both satisfied with media reporting. Greta Thunberg, who held up the Palestinian flag, produced impressive pictures on the boat that were quickly spread on social media. The Israeli Ministry of Defense, led by Israel Katz, legitimized the interception campaign with the indication of the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip, which aims to contain the influence of Hamas. The situation in connection with the blockade has been tense since the beginning of the Gaza war, with Israel systematically preventing the delivery of relief goods.

Although the activists were not allowed to get to Gaza and were instead sent back to Europe, Israel planned to send the unused food rations into the Gaza Strip. Some of the activists previously had to watch a 45-minute video about Hamas atrocities. Iran described the action in which the ship was stopped as piracy and criticized the Israeli military interventions in the field of humanitarian aid.

The campaign initiated by the activists and Thunberg was not only an attempt to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, but also to appeal to the responsibility of the international community to work for the rights of the Palestinian population. This was done under the pressure that the ongoing conflicts in the region exercise on the humanitarian situation.