Swedish climate and human rights activist Greta Thunberg is being deported from Israel following the interception of a humanitarian aid vessel en route to the Gaza Strip. The ship, Madleen, was seized by Israeli naval forces in international waters approximately 125 miles off the coast of Gaza. It was carrying 12 volunteers, including Thunberg, who were participating in a civilian-led mission to deliver aid to Palestinians amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The mission was organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), a network that has conducted similar voyages in the past to challenge maritime restrictions around Gaza. While the activists claim their presence in international waters was lawful and peaceful, Israeli authorities have described the operation as a deliberate political maneuver intended to provoke international media attention.
Upon seizure, the vessel was escorted to the port of Ashdod. According to legal advocacy group Adalah, which is representing the activists, four individuals—including Thunberg—agreed to voluntary deportation and were flown out of Israel. The remaining participants declined deportation and are currently in detention, awaiting hearings before Israeli judicial authorities.
Officials from Israel’s Interior Ministry stated that those who refused deportation could be held for up to 96 hours before being formally expelled. The detainees are expected to be transferred to the Ramleh detention facility if they do not accept immediate deportation.
The incident has drawn attention from international observers and human rights advocates. Among those aboard the ship was French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, who has previously been denied entry into Israel due to her public criticism of the country’s policies regarding Palestinians. Her legal status remains under review.
In a recorded message released prior to her deportation, Thunberg described the interception as an unlawful act, claiming that the activists were “taken against their will in international waters.” Supporters of the flotilla have echoed these concerns, calling the seizure a violation of international maritime law and demanding the immediate release of the remaining detainees, as well as the return of the humanitarian supplies.
Israeli authorities, however, assert that the blockade of Gaza is a necessary security measure and have maintained that vessels attempting to breach it—regardless of their intent—are subject to enforcement actions.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry, however, dismissed the initiative as a “media stunt” with no legitimate aid purpose. The ministry confirmed that the intercepted vessel was escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod later that evening. In a statement shared on social media, the ministry posted a photo of Thunberg on a flight, reporting that she was en route to France and would subsequently return to Sweden.
Legal advocacy organization Adalah, which is representing Thunberg and the other passengers, confirmed that she, along with two other activists and a journalist, consented to deportation. Other participants reportedly declined to leave voluntarily and are currently in detention. Their status will be reviewed by Israeli authorities.
The episode has reignited global debate over access to Gaza, the use of maritime routes for humanitarian aid, and the broader geopolitical implications of such civilian-led missions. As legal proceedings unfold, the fate of the remaining detainees will likely shape future discourse on the intersection of activism, humanitarian relief, and international law.
Under Israeli law, individuals who refuse deportation are held for up to 96 hours pending judicial review. Sabine Haddad, a spokesperson for Israel’s Interior Ministry, stated that the activists who chose immediate deportation had waived their right to appear before a judge. Those who did not will remain in custody until their hearings.
Among the detained was Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian heritage. Hassan had previously been denied entry into Israel due to her vocal criticism of Israeli policies. As of now, it remains unclear whether she will be deported or detained further.
France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, commented on the situation during a press conference on Tuesday, June 10. He confirmed that one of the French detainees had signed an expulsion order and would be returning to France. However, he did not disclose the individual’s identity. The remaining five French nationals, according to Barrot, declined expulsion and have since received consular visits.
FFC stated that all detainees were expected to be transferred to the Ramleh detention facility unless they agreed to voluntary deportation. “We continue to demand the immediate release of all volunteers and the return of the stolen aid,” the group said in a public statement. “Their detention is unlawful and a violation of international law.”
Adalah echoed these sentiments, asserting that Israel lacked legal jurisdiction over the vessel. According to the organization, the Madleen was operating in international waters and was not bound for Israeli territory but rather for what the group defines as “the territorial waters of the state of Palestine.”
The unfolding diplomatic and legal issues surrounding the incident continue to draw international attention, particularly as Thunberg remains a high-profile advocate for human rights, environmental justice, and now, humanitarian aid.
As of now, the broader implications of the flotilla’s interception are being closely observed by governments, humanitarian organizations, and legal experts across the globe.
Source: The Independent – Joe Yates, “Greta Thunberg deported from Israel after Gaza-bound aid ship seized”
Source: Associated Press, Al Jazeera, The Washington Post – June 10, 2025.
