Greta Thunberg says she’s been ‘kidnapped’

Greta Thunberg was reportedly intercepted and detained by Israeli forces while aboard the British-flagged yacht Madleen, which was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the ship was carrying essential supplies such as baby formula, food, and medical items. The vessel, with 12 crew members including Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan, was stopped in international waters before reaching Gaza. Thunberg, in a social media video, described the incident as a kidnapping and urged the Swedish government to intervene. Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed the interception, stating that the crew was safe and had been given food and water.

The FFC condemned the action as illegal, claiming the volunteers were arbitrarily detained and that their cargo was unlawfully confiscated. Hassan criticized the Israeli military’s actions and shared images from the interception. Israel’s blockade of Gaza, in place since 2007, has intensified following the October 2023 Hamas attacks. Since then, tens of thousands of Palestinians have reportedly been killed, and millions are facing famine. While Israel argues the blockade is necessary to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas, critics argue it has created a severe humanitarian crisis.