Twelve international activists, including Swedish climate advocate Greta Thunberg, were intercepted by Israeli naval forces aboard the humanitarian vessel Madleen, part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The boat, which departed from Sicily, was aiming to reach Gaza’s territorial waters and challenge Israel’s blockade. According to legal teams and organizers, the ship was seized in international waters in what they call a violation of international law.

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Four activists—Thunberg, Spanish activist Sergio Toribio, French journalist Omar Faiad, and French activist Baptiste André—were deported after agreeing to voluntary removal. Upon returning to Paris, Thunberg condemned Israel’s actions and the broader siege on Gaza, calling it “a genocide” and describing the blockade as a mechanism of systematic starvation.

“The real crime is not the seizure of our boat,” she said, “but the ongoing starvation and destruction in Gaza.” Thunberg called on global citizens to pressure their governments to allow aid into the besieged enclave and help end the war.

In Tel Aviv, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed the flotilla as “a publicity stunt and nothing more,” declared Thunberg persona non grata, and stated she would not be permitted to return. He claimed the activists were treated well in custody and accused them of violating Israel’s maritime regulations.

Eight other passengers remain in Israeli detention: Suayb Ordu (Turkey), Mark van Rins (Netherlands), Pascal Moreras, Riva Fiard, Rima Hassan, Yanis Mohammadi (France), Tiago Ávila (Brazil), and Yasmin Ajar (Germany). Their appeals, filed by Adalah Legal Center, were rejected by a court in Ramla, which upheld Israel’s right to enforce its blockade.

Adalah’s lawyers argued that the activists did not intend to enter Israel and were forcibly brought there from international waters, in breach of humanitarian law. They stressed that the Israeli legal basis of “illegal entry” does not apply in this case.

Under Israeli law, detainees may be held for at least 72 hours, and in some cases up to 96 hours or more, before forced deportation unless they consent to leave voluntarily. A custody review hearing is scheduled for July 8 if deportations have not taken place by then. Legal observers warn this could result in prolonged, arbitrary detention without judicial oversight.

French MEP Rima Hassan was briefly placed in solitary confinement at Neve Tirza prison for writing “Free Palestine” on her cell wall. She was later returned to Givon prison, where six of the remaining detainees are being held. Brazilian activist Tiago Ávila was moved to Ayalon prison after launching a hunger and thirst strike, which his legal team described as a protest against the inhumane treatment.

The Madleen carried symbolic humanitarian cargo and aimed to break the blockade to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Amid ongoing airstrikes and shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies, international legal experts and solidarity networks continue to demand unrestricted access for aid and an end to the blockade.

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