Greta Thunberg Among Activists Intercepted by Israeli Forces

International Incident: Activist Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg Intercepted by Israeli Forces On June 9th, 2025, a charity vessel en route to Gaza carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and several other prominent figures was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. The incident has sparked international attention and raised questions about Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. Video footage shared on social media shows the moment Israeli forces boarded the yacht, the 'Madleen'. Greta Thunberg, in a pre-recorded message, stated, "If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces." Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian activist on board, added in a separate video, "If you're seeing this video now, it's because we've been stopped by the Israeli army or their complicit allies." The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statement confirming the interception, stating that the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to other traffic as part of a legal naval blockade. They also stated that the 'selfie yacht' of the celebrities is safely making its way to the shores of Israel and the passengers are expected to return to their home countries. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges faced by humanitarian aid efforts.