Protesters have targeted Albo’s Sydney electorate office after Israeli forces board Greta Thunberg’s ship

Protesters have rallied outside the Prime Minister’s Sydney electorate office after Israeli forces intercepted a boat of activists, including Greta Thunberg.

Protesters have gathered outside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Sydney electorate office after Israeli forces intercepted a boat of activists – including Greta Thunberg – that was attempting to challenge the blockade of Gaza.

Thunberg was among a group of activists on board the ship aid supplies when the boat was intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday Sydney time.

Greta Thunberg urged people to put pressure on the Swedish government to release her and the other protesters as soon as possible during a prerecorded video. Picture: https://www.instagram.com/gretathunberg/

The crew on board the Madleen ship. Picture: Supplied.

Several prerecorded videos were posted to X by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition following the interception, including one where Thunberg urged people to put pressure on the Swedish government to release her and the other protesters as soon as possible.

“If you see this video we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel,” Thunberg said in the video.

A snap protest in response to Israel’s boarding of the Madleen ship and detention of its crew has been held outside the Prime Minister electorate office in Marrickville. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

The Israel Foreign Ministry have dubbed the boat a “selfie yacht” of “celebrities” in a post to X, writing the boat was “safely making its way to the shores of Israel”.

“The passengers are expected to return to their home countries,” the Israel Foreign Ministry wrote to X about 10.54am AEST.

All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over. pic.twitter.com/tLZZYcspJO

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025

Further posts from the Israeli ministry said all passengers were “safe and unharmed”.

“They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over,” one post read.

“Greta Thunberg is currently on her way to Israel, safe and in good spirits,” another read.

Protesters outside the Prime Minister's Marrickville electorate office. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Protesters are calling for Mr Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong to pressure Israel to release the activists. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Pro-Palestine protesters called a snap protest at Mr Albanese’s office in Marrickville on Monday afternoon, wielding signs reading “Good guys don’t block aid” and Palestinian flags.

Other signs read “Hey Albo it’s time. Sanction Israel now!”

The rally outside Mr Albanese’s office is one of a string of nationwide rallies. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Students for Palestine (SFP) and the Palestine Action Group (PAG) called for the nationwide rallies in response to the interception of the Madleen ship.

PAG member Josh Lees called on the Albanese government to demand Israeli authorities release the activists in a statement issued on Monday afternoon.

“Israel’s illegal act of piracy, attacking a vessel in international waters, must be condemned and face consequences,” Mr Lees said in a statement.

“The Gaza Freedom Flotilla crew are heroes, who are exposing the complete failure of governments around the world, including our own in Australia, to lift a finger to stop Israel’s mass starvation and genocide in Gaza.

“We reiterate our call for Albanese to urgently place sanctions on Israel, and to finally end the two-way arms trade with that rogue state which is openly carrying out the horrific war crimes of deliberate mass starvation, relentless massacres of civilians, including those seeking aid, ethnic cleansing and genocide.”

Protesters are calling for the activists to be released. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

A SFP co-convener also called on Mr Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong to expel the Israeli ambassador, cut military and economic ties with Israel, and pressure Israel to release the activists.

“The Madleen crew represent the hopes of all those who stand for humanity against the starvation and bombardment of Gazans, and they must be immediately released,” the SFP co-convener said in a statement on Instagram.

Mr Albanese’s office was out of use for about six months last year over safety concerns from continuous protests.

Some MP electorate office’s were also smeared with red paint and graffiti last year.

Originally published as Protesters have targeted Albo’s Sydney electorate office after Israeli forces board Greta Thunberg’s ship