EXPLAINER | Why the world has its eyes on Greta Thunberg’s Gaza voyage

While world leaders talk in circles and fund both sides, a lone ship with no weapons and a 22-year-old activist dares to cross the red line into Gaza.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined the Madleen, an aid ship bound for Gaza, in an effort to challenge the ongoing blockade affecting over 2 million Gazans.

The blockade has remained in place through multiple conflicts — including the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages.

In retaliation, Israel launched a military offensive that has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of Gaza, home to 2.3 million people.

In March 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated the siege by sealing Gaza’s land borders for three months and halting the entry of all humanitarian aid. The total blockade was imposed amid Israeli accusations that Hamas was diverting aid meant for civilians, a claim used to justify the sweeping restrictions.

Limited food aid has only recently been allowed through an Israeli-backed group, but many Palestinians have died trying to access it.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk described the crisis starkly, saying Palestinians face the “grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available.”

Organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the Madleen departed from Catania, Sicily on June 1, 2025, carrying vital humanitarian supplies to address severe shortages caused by the total blockade.

Speaking with Democracy Now! during the journey, Thunberg said, “And if my presence on this boat can make a difference, if that can show in any way that the world has not forgotten about Palestine... then that is a risk I am willing to take.” 

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla is a series of maritime missions launched since 2008 by international activist groups aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, which was imposed in 2007 after Hamas took control. 

Israel instituted the blockade citing security concerns, specifically to prevent Hamas — a group it considers a terrorist organization — from importing weapons and materials that could be used for attacks against Israeli civilians.

This blockade restricts the entry of goods by land, sea, and air, severely limiting access to vital humanitarian supplies and depriving Palestinians of basic rights such as health, safety, and freedom of movement. 

The most well-known flotilla sailed in May 2010, consisting of six ships carrying around 700 activists, aid workers, journalists, and politicians from over 20 countries. They carried humanitarian aid and construction materials intended for Gaza. 

On May 31, 2010, while still in international waters near Cyprus, Israeli naval commandos violently boarded the Turkish flagship Mavi Marmara, using helicopters and speedboats. The raid resulted in the deaths of nine activists and injuries to many others, causing widespread international condemnation and a United Nations investigation, which upheld the legality of the blockade but condemned the excessive force used by Israel.

Following this deadly incident, the FFC was formed in 2010 to coordinate global efforts to challenge the siege through non-violent resistance, education, and public advocacy. Subsequent flotillas faced increasing obstacles: in 2011, most ships were prevented from leaving ports in Turkey and Greece due to diplomatic pressure and alleged sabotage; only the French vessel Dignite al-Karama approached Gaza but was intercepted by Israel. 

In 2015, Freedom Flotilla III was again intercepted in international waters by the Israeli navy, which claimed the action was to prevent the flotilla from breaking the blockade and reaching Gaza's shores.

Other missions included the Women’s Boat to Gaza in 2016, which was seized by Israeli forces and whose all-women crew — comprising politicians, journalists, actors, and a Nobel laureate — was arrested and deported. 

In 2017, a flotilla supporting Gaza fishermen was attacked by a suspected Israeli drone near Malta, and in 2018, Israeli forces stopped the Norwegian-flagged fishing boat al-Awda, arresting all 22 aboard. Recent efforts by ships like Handala in 2023-2024 have focused on educational outreach in Europe about Gaza’s ongoing siege and war.

In May and June 2025, the FFC once again captured global attention with two bold missions to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. On May 2, the vessel Conscience was attacked by two explosive drones while anchored in international waters near Malta. The strike, widely believed to be carried out by Israel, injured four crew members, disabled communication systems, and set the ship on fire, forcing the mission to abort. 

Just a month later, on June 1, the FFC launched a second attempt with a new vessel named Madleen, honoring Gaza’s first and only fisherwoman, Madleen Kulab. 

A symbol of resilience, Madleen had spent years fishing beyond Israel’s gunship blockade to support her family until her boats and gear were destroyed in Israeli airstrikes. Since then, she has endured displacement, the death of her father in a 2023 airstrike, and the crushing loss of her livelihood — all while caring for four young children in a city ravaged by war.

Departing from the port of Catania, Sicily, the Madleen carried twelve international human-rights activists and humanitarian aid: baby formula, flour, rice, diapers, sanitary pads, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches, and prosthetics for children injured by Israeli airstrikes. The mission aims to deliver the supplies directly to Gaza by sea, in a nonviolent challenge to the ongoing naval blockade.

Madleen, speaking from her damaged home in Gaza City, described hearing about the ship bearing her name as “deeply moving” and a source of “enormous pride and responsibility.” 

Despite losing her boats and livelihood, she remains hopeful, saying: “This is also a message of hope for me. They may have bombed my boat, but my name will remain – and it will sail across the sea.”

Eleven activists and a journalist boarded the Madleen. Among them was Thunberg whose participation has drawn intense international attention.

“We know that it’s a very risky mission and we know that previous experiences with flotillas like this have resulted in attacks, violence and even cases of death,” Thunberg said, as reported by CNN. “But of course none of those risks are even remotely as high as the risk that Palestinians are facing everyday just by trying to survive.”

Joining her was Rima Hassan, a Palestinian-French lawyer and newly elected member of the European Parliament, whose advocacy for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement previously got her barred from entering Israel. 

Also onboard was Omar Fayyad, a journalist with Al Jazeera, the prominent Qatar-based international news network known for its extensive coverage of Middle Eastern affairs, who documented the voyage from start to seizure.

The remaining passengers represented a cross-section of international civil society: Yasemin Acar, a German pro-Palestinian advocate; Baptiste Andre, a French doctor; Brazilian social activist Thiago Ávila; Şuayb Ordu from Turkey; French activists Pascal Maurieras and Reva Viard; French journalist-director Yanis Mhamdi from Blast, a French independent media outlet; as well as Sergio Toribio and Marco Van Rennes, crew members from Spain and the Netherlands, respectively.

While actor Liam Cunningham — best known for his role in Game of Thrones — was not among those aboard, he participated in the ship’s send-off ceremony in Sicily and delivered a pointed message of solidarity. Speaking with RTÉ Radio 1, Cunningham criticized the failure of governments to uphold their legal and humanitarian obligations amid what the United Nations has described as the worst conditions in Gaza since the war began 19 months ago.

“I have to be able to look at my grandkids when they hit their teens and say to me, ‘What did you do during this?’” Cunningham said. “I do not want to be one of those people that said, ‘I didn’t do anything.’”

Cunningham, who helped amplify the mission's message ahead of its departure, added: “The world cannot stand by and allow this to continue.”

As the ship approached Gaza’s maritime zone on June 9, Israeli forces launched a pre-planned operation. They used drones to spray an unknown white substance on the deck and jammed communications. Around 2 a.m., Israeli naval commandos boarded the ship in international waters, took control, and redirected it to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Activists called this seizure illegal under international law, since Israel has no right to stop ships in international waters or detain their passengers. The aid cargo was confiscated, and the activists were held without charges. Human rights groups condemned the raid as a political attack on peaceful aid.

Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard stated, "By forcibly intercepting and blocking the Madleen which was carrying humanitarian aid and a crew of solidarity activists, Israel has once again flouted its legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip and demonstrated its chilling contempt for legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice."

Despite carrying only humanitarian supplies, the Madleen was treated as a hostile threat. According to the FFC on June 9, four of the activists have since been deported, while eight remain detained inside Israel. They are being processed as if they had entered the country illegally, even though they were taken by force from international waters. 

At a June 10 tribunal in Ramleh Prison, the detainees were formally accused of “illegal entry,” and each was issued a 100-year entry ban. Lawyers have challenged their imprisonment and called for their immediate release, noting that Israel’s legal system routinely reinforces policies of occupation and apartheid. 

Conditions in detention have been described as inhumane. Thiago Avila has been on a hunger and water strike since June 9, while others report bedbug infestations and no access to clean drinking water.

Gaza’s fishing zone is limited and shrinking under the blockade, devastating its fishing industry. The ship’s namesake, Madleen Kulab has lost her livelihood due to repeated displacement and violence.

Despite international law requiring action against such blockades and humanitarian crises, many governments, including European ones, have failed to intervene, even supplying weapons to Israel.

Acknowledging the legal and physical dangers highlighted by past flotilla crackdowns, the Madleen activists knowingly sailed to bring attention to Gaza’s suffering and to challenge the blockade. 

As Thunberg tearfully said before departure, “We are doing this because no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity.”

Since 2007, Israel has enforced a naval blockade on Gaza, citing security concerns to prevent the flow of weapons to Hamas and other militant groups controlling the enclave. 

Following the October 2023 escalation — triggered by a deadly Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis — the blockade was tightened further, with Israel blocking nearly all aid into Gaza, including food, water, medicine, and fuel. Official crossings like Rafah and Kerem Shalom have been closed or severely restricted, prompting widespread shortages and humanitarian crises for Gaza’s over two million residents.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, in a statement on X, explicitly ordered the military to block the Madleen from reaching Gaza, labeling it a “hate flotilla” and authorizing “any means necessary” to prevent it from breaching the naval blockade.

The Israeli government dismissed the flotilla as a mere publicity effort, referring to the Madleen disparagingly as a “selfie yacht” carrying “celebrities” rather than a legitimate aid vessel.

Later that day, footage circulated showing Israeli soldiers handing out water and sandwiches to the crew. The Israel’s Foreign Ministry wrote, “All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.”

While Israel sought to trivialize the operation, activists framed the seizure as a serious violation of humanitarian law. The FFC shared images of the crew in life jackets with their hands raised in surrender, describing the boarding as an “abduction” in international waters.

The vessel, which was carrying humanitarian supplies, was seized and redirected to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Reports suggest that the crew will be shown footage of the October 7 attacks before being deported. 

But far from ending the campaign, the interception has ignited global support. Inspired by the Madleen, more than 200 activists, lawmakers, and diplomats launched a separate convoy from Algeria as part of an international effort to challenge the siege and deliver aid.

Israel has framed the operation as a lawful response within its security rights, pledging to distribute the supplies through authorized channels. However, many legal experts and rights groups argue that the blockade itself is illegal under international law, amounting to collective punishment. 

The FCC, which organized the mission, insists the Madleen was carrying out a peaceful, legal aid effort. They condemned Israel’s actions as unlawful, accusing the military of piracy and extrajudicial detention. All crew members had pre-recorded messages in case of capture, urging their home countries to intervene.

The seizure of the Madleen triggered a wave of condemnation worldwide. Many governments, organizations, and rights groups framed the incident as a blatant breach of international law, particularly because it occurred in international waters.

Human rights watchdogs were among the first to respond. Amnesty International emphasized that Israel, as the occupying power, is legally obligated to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Blocking the Madleen, they said, was a direct violation of international humanitarian law. 

Similarly, Al-Haq, a prominent Palestinian legal rights group, stated that Israel has no lawful claim over access to Palestine and that this interception infringes on the Palestinian people's right to receive aid.

Several political leaders and institutions issued direct diplomatic responses. French President Emmanuel Macron called for the immediate return of the six French nationals on board, and France’s foreign ministry demanded consular access to the detainees. Spain’s foreign ministry summoned the Israeli diplomat in Madrid to express its concern.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called the Israeli action “cowardly and illegal,” praising climate activist Greta Thunberg and other passengers for risking their freedom to help starving Gazans.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, demanded the release of the Madleen, calling the blockade-breaking mission a “legal duty” and a “moral imperative.” She urged more ports to send boats carrying aid and solidarity to Gaza.

The European Parliament faction “The Left”, which includes Hassan, condemned the interception as part of a broader pattern of Israeli policy meant to starve Palestinians and hide war crimes.

From the Philippines, the Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA) condemned the Madleen raid as a “crime with impunity,” denouncing Israel’s chemical assault and arrests as part of its campaign to starve Gaza. They urged the Philippine government to break its silence and demand accountability.

Amnesty International Philippines also condemned the raid, stressing that the unarmed humanitarian crew must be released and protected. They warned the blockade is a deliberate effort to harm Palestinian civilians and criticized the world’s failure to act, which forced activists to risk their lives.

Statements also came from global civil society. The Jewish Council of Australia expressed deep concern for the safety of the Madleen’s crew and urged its government to intervene. Voices from Turkey and Iran denounced the incident as piracy, pointing to the ship’s position in international waters.

On June 10, the Sumoud Convoy — a land-based aid initiative involving over 1,000 participants from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Mauritania—entered Libya en route to Egypt. Comprising 12 buses and over 100 private vehicles, the convoy plans to reach Rafah by land in an effort to bypass the naval blockade and deliver essential supplies to Palestinians. Organizers describe the convoy as a direct response to Israel’s obstruction of sea routes and a call for Egypt to allow overland access to Gaza.

According to the Tunisian publication Carthage Magazine, the Sumoud Convoy also aims to pressure Cairo to grant passage permits, with entry into Gaza hinging on Egypt’s approval. The convoy is part of a broader international campaign — including the upcoming Global March to Gaza on June 15 — involving activists from over 30 countries.

As anger mounted over Israel’s maritime blockade, solidarity movements began mobilizing new ways to deliver aid. On June 10, a massive land-based effort — the Sumoud Convoy — crossed into Libya en route to Egypt. 

Composed of over 1,000 participants from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Mauritania, and traveling in 12 buses and over 100 private vehicles, the convoy aims to reach Rafah by land. Organizers say the mission was sparked directly by the Madleen’s seizure and represents both a logistical alternative and a political challenge to the blockade.

According to Carthage Magazine, the convoy is not only delivering aid but also pressuring the Egyptian government to allow entry into Gaza — a critical point, given that passage through Rafah depends on Cairo’s approval. 

The Sumoud Convoy is part of a broader global campaign to break the siege, culminating in the Global March to Gaza on June 15, which will mobilize activists from more than 30 countries.

Across the board, the global response coalesced around a common message: blocking humanitarian aid and detaining activists in open seas is not only politically indefensible but a clear violation of international norms.