The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted the Madleen, a ship carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and other pro-Hamas activists, as it attempted to breach Israeli territorial waters en route to the Gaza Strip early Monday morning. The vessel, dubbed the “selfie yacht” by Israeli officials, was boarded around 3:00 am local time by Shayetet 13, Israel’s elite naval commando unit, and redirected to the Port of Ashdod. All passengers on board were detained and would be deported after being shown the footage of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to a statement from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the activists on board were informed of legal channels through which humanitarian aid can be delivered to Gaza. A video released by the IDF shows a navy officer warning the ship’s crew: "If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the Port of Ashdod via the established channels and distribution zones."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered that all detainees aboard the Madleen be shown video footage of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre of Israeli civilians. The attack left more than 1,200 Israelis dead, injured thousands, saw over 250 kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists, and triggered the current war in Gaza. "It is fitting that the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-supporting friends see exactly who the Hamas terror organization is, which they came to support and for whom they are acting,” said Katz. “What atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself."

Among the passengers detained were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, French European Parliament member Rima Hassan, and actor Liam Cunningham, best known for his role in Game of Thrones. The group had promoted the mission as a humanitarian flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, although Israeli officials criticized it as a publicity stunt with limited actual assistance.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry emphasized that the ship carried "less than a single truckload of aid," while Israel has facilitated over 1,200 aid trucks into Gaza in the past two weeks. A statement from the ministry added, "There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies."

According to Israeli reports, some of the activists, including Thunberg, allegedly threw their electronic devices into the sea upon the IDF’s approach. Israeli commentators mocked the act, highlighting the irony of climate activists polluting the Mediterranean Sea during a so-called humanitarian mission.

Alarms reportedly sounded aboard the Madleen at 1:17 am as Israeli forces neared. The activists were instructed to don life jackets and prepare for boarding. No injuries were reported during the operation.

Israeli officials reiterated their commitment to facilitating humanitarian relief through proper avenues. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in addition to truck deliveries, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed nearly 11 million meals to civilians inside Gaza in recent weeks. “The aid from the flotilla, small as it was and not consumed by the ‘celebrities,’ will be transferred through real humanitarian channels,” the ministry concluded.

The activists are expected to be deported in the coming days.