Thunberg, activists ‘to be made to view Hamas atrocities’ after ship towed to Ashdod

The Israeli Defence Minister said the military, which is towing Greta Thunberg’s aid ship to Israel, will screen a 45-minute video of the October 7, 2023, massacre before the activists are deported.

The crew of the Madleen yacht with arms raised as the IDF boarded the vessel.

Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and her fellow activists who have been detained as they tried to deliver aid to Gaza will be made to watch a video of Hamas atrocities before they’re deported.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he had told the military, which is towing the activists’ ship Madleen to Israel, to screen a 45-minute video of the October 7, 2023, massacre once they arrive at the port of Ashdod.

The video shows Israelis being massacred and bodies mutilated during the onslaught, much of it filmed by the militants’ bodycams.

“It’s appropriate that Greta the anti-Semite and her Hamas-supporting friends should see exactly who is the terror group Hamas that they support and act on behalf of, what atrocious acts they carried out on women, the elderly and kids, and who Israel is fighting for its defence against,” Mr Katz said in a statement.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed Ms Thunberg was safe, posting a picture of her receiving a sandwich from a soldier.

Greta Thunberg is currently on her way to Israel, safe and in good spirits. pic.twitter.com/pjWSr0lOsE

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

It followed a dramatic few hours during which Israeli commandos boarded the ship and cut its communications before taking it under tow.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the aid mission, said Israeli forces boarded the vessel just after 3am local time and detained those on-board. The coalition claimed the interception took place in international waters, posting a set of coordinates north of Egypt’s Port Said near the entrance to the Suez Canal.

In another post on X, the Foreign Ministry confirmed the activists were safe, being fed and had been given water.

“All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over,” the ministry said.

Officials said the activists would be deported, and the “tiny amount of aid” the ship was carrying would be sent to Gaza.

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

The ministry also said Ms Thunberg and her fellow activists “attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity.”

The boat was carrying “less than a single truckload of aid,” it said, adding that “more than 1200 aid trucks have entered Gaza.

“There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies. The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the ‘celebrities’ will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels,” the ministry said.

The British-flagged boat departed from Sicily earlier in June carrying a cargo of baby formula, flour, rice, and medical supplies, according to the coalition.

“We are doing this because we have to keep our promise to the Palestinians,” Ms Thunberg said at the launch of the boat.

The coalition, which also organised a flotilla in 2010, includes a range of pro-Palestinian activist groups from across the world, including the Free Gaza Movement, the European Campaign to End the Siege, and the Turkish non-profit Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH).

After the boat was boarded, the coalition posted a video of the crew sitting in life jackets with their hands up, on Instagram, saying: “Connection has been lost.”

The activists claimed they had been “kidnapped”, said their communications had been jammed and quadcopters were hovering over the boat, spraying a white “paint-like” substance.

In a pre-recorded video, Ms Thunberg said: “If you see this video we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel.” She asked friends and family to pressure the Swedish government to urge Israel to release her and her comrades.

SOS! the volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces.
Pressure their foreign ministries and help us keep them safe!

Web: https://t.co/uCGmx8sn8j
X : @SweMFA
FB : @SweMFA
IG : swedishmfa#AllEyesOnMadeleenpic.twitter.com/ijzeqeLmpa

— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 9, 2025

The Foreign Ministry earlier posted a video of a soldier on board a military speed boat near the Madleen telling the crew over a loudspeaker: “The maritime zone near the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade.” The soldier added that humanitarian aid could be delivered to Gaza via Ashdod.

The Foreign Ministry said the navy “has instructed the ‘selfie yacht’ to change its course due to its approach toward a restricted area”.

The Israeli Navy is currently communicating with the “selfie yacht”. Using an international civilian communication system, the Israeli Navy has instructed the “selfie yacht” to change its course due to its approach toward a restricted area. pic.twitter.com/KnSqWrsXU2

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 8, 2025

Je suis journaliste et après avoir couvert pendant une semaine le convoi de la Feeedom Flotilla mon arrestation par l'armée israélienne est imminente. Des humanitaires et des journalistes n'ont pas être arrêté J'appelle tous mes confrères à se mobiliser. @blast_francepic.twitter.com/T1hiNZXLQf

— Yanis Mhamdi (@yanmdi) June 8, 2025

Before the confrontation, UN Special Rapporteur for Palestine Francesca Albanese tweeted that five speedboats had surrounded the ship.

The crew and passengers were told to remain seated with their passports and life jackets on, she reported.

BREAKING!!! - 11:18PM UK time; I am with the flotilla online. They have just been reached by the Israel speedboats - 5 vessels circling the flotilla. The captain is instructing the team to stay calm and seated, with their passports and life jackets on. I hear them speaking with…

— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) June 8, 2025

Ms Albanese tweeted: “I am with the flotilla online. They have just been reached by the Israel speedboats – 5 vessels circling the flotilla. The captain is instructing the team to stay calm and seated, with their passports and life jackets on. I hear them speaking with Israeli soldiers as I type … telling they are carrying humanitarian aid and go in peace. For the time being they are just circled. I am with them, recording everything.”

Minutes later, Ms Albanese posted on X: “I just spoke again with the Flotilla. All looks calm and safe now. Speedboats watching; but the flotilla continues its sailing. It will be a long night.”

Israel’s Defense Minister has once again threatened unlawful force against civilians, attempting to justify violence with baseless smears. We will not be intimidated.

The 'Madleen' is a peaceful civilian vessel, unarmed and sailing in international waters with humanitarian aid… pic.twitter.com/vZ1eTA83gt

— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 8, 2025

The fast-moving scenario came after Mr Katz said he had instructed the IDF “to act to stop the hate-flotilla ‘Madleen’ from reaching the shores of Gaza – and to take any means necessary to that end”.

“To the anti-Semitic Greta and her friends, I say clearly: You should turn back, because you will not reach Gaza,” he added, calling the activists “Hamas propaganda mouthpieces”.

The Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Italy on June 1 with the aim of delivering aid and challenging the Israeli blockade, which has been in place for years even before the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023.

Greta Thunberg speaks to reporters before departing on the aid ship Madleen for Gaza. Picture: AP

AFP