Greta Thunberg, the renowned Swedish climate activist, was deported by Israeli authorities on Tuesday following the interception of the Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen by the Israeli navy in international waters. Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed her departure on a flight to Sweden via France, alongside three other activists and a journalist.
The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s June 2025 humanitarian campaign, set sail from Sicily on June 1 carrying essentials like rice, flour, baby formula, medical kits, and diapers. The vessel aimed to challenge Israel’s longstanding naval blockade of Gaza and deliver aid directly to civilians.
Israeli forces intercepted the boat approximately 185 km off Gaza’s coast on June 9, towing it to Ashdod without reported resistance from the activists onboard.
Following boarding, some crew members discarded personal devices overboard, prompting speculation about covert communications.
Upon her arrival at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport, Thunberg denounced Israel’s action as “an illegal act” amounting to “kidnapping” in international waters and compared her rough treatment to the daily suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. She described the seizure as “chaotic and uncertain” and called for the immediate release of detainees, stating that persistency would continue until sustainable aid flow was restored.
While four individuals—including Thunberg—accepted deportation, eight others refused and remain in custody pending a court hearing before potential deportation. Those who refused include French MEP Rima Hassan, who has previously been banned from Israel .
Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Adalah have condemned the interception as a violation of international law, with Adalah calling it “politically motivated”
Israel has defended its actions, asserting the blockade is “lawful” and critical for national security, dismissing the flotilla mission as a “publicity stunt” aimed at political messaging .
The broader flotilla campaign aimed to spotlight Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Earlier in May, a previous vessel was targeted by drone strikes in the Mediterranean, underscoring the heightened militarization surrounding aid efforts .
With Thunberg back in Europe, activists continue to press for humanitarian corridors into Gaza, with global attention now focused on the fate of those remaining aboard the Madleen.
