New Delhi, June 9
Israeli naval commandos intercepted the British-flagged humanitarian yacht Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), as it attempted to breach Israel’s long-standing naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Among those aboard were renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).
In a series of posts on X, Hassan stated that Israeli forces boarded the vessel around 2 a.m. while it was sailing in international waters.
"The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2 a.m. Actions are coming -- stay tuned," she wrote on X.
One photo shared by Hassan showed individuals wearing life jackets, seated with their hands raised, suggesting they were detained.
The FFC confirmed via Telegram that all communication with Madleen had been lost and accused Israeli forces of "kidnapping" the activists.
Meanwhile, Greta Thunberg also posted a video appealing to the Swedish government for the release of the volunteers.