Greta Thunberg and the Madleen: Israel stops Gaza aid ship

Greta Thunberg and the Madleen: Israel stops Gaza aid ship

Ashdod, Israel - On June 10, 2025, the Israeli Navy intercepted the Gaza solidarity ship "Madleen", which the well-known climate activist Greta Thunberg and other humanitarian activists had on board. The ship was on the way to the Gaza Strip characterized by conflicts to bring urgently needed relief supplies such as baby food and medical care. The campaign should draw international attention to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, which according to reports is devastating throughout the area.

The ship arrived in the Israeli port city of Ashdod on Monday evening after it was stopped in international waters. Israeli soldiers went on board, which the activists perceived as an attack. After arriving in Ashdod, the passengers were welcomed at the Ben Gurion Airport, where their return trip to the home countries is planned. Anyone who does not sign the expulsion documents will be brought before a judicial authority and violates applicable law, according to the Israeli authorities.

international reactions and allegations

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the company as the “selfie yacht” of celebrities and accused the activist to stage a media provocation. According to reports from the activists, the ship was instructed to change its course because it approached a restricted area. The Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz had given the instructions to prevent the ship's arrival at all costs and expressed himself derogatory about Thunberg.

The activist group already announced that it would start a new attempt to sail in Gaza. Thunberg, who is known for their commitment to climate protection, is also criticized for their commitment to the Palestinian population. In particular, their critics accuse the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, which triggered the current Gaza war. According to reports, more than 54,800 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war.

Humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains tense, while international actors are trying to negotiate about ceasefire and humanitarian aid. The Israeli army is said to have recently attacked refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in reports of violent fights and numerous fatalities. Local news sources report catastrophic conditions in refugee camps in which people live under inhumane conditions.

Aid deliveries reach the Gaza Strip, but in many areas of vital goods, especially in the north. A recently carried out aid campaign brought 100 trucks with relief goods, but the distribution remains insufficient. German Welthungerhilfe warns of impending famine, while the World Health Organization reports on interruptions in vaccination campaigns that are difficult by the ongoing fights.

The situation in the Gaza Strip is a disturbing example of the continuing effects of the conflict, which increasingly also affects southern Lebanon, where the tensions between Israeli forces and the HISBOLLAH increase.

For more information on this topic, you can report the reports of vienna.at href = "https://www.zeit.de/sgesellschaft/zeitchalehen/2025-06/freeedom-flotilla-israel-gazastreifen-greta-thunberg"> Zeit Online and read SRF