Humanitarian Sailboat Intercepted by Israel: Tensions Rise Over the Arrest of Rima Hassan and Greta Thunberg

The Madleen, a humanitarian sailboat chartered by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to deliver aid to Gaza, was intercepted during the night of June 8 to 9 by the Israeli military as it neared the coast of the Palestinian enclave. On board were twelve activists from several European countries, including French MEP Rima Hassan, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, and Irish actor Liam Cunningham.

Departing from Catania, Sicily on June 1 with a stopover in Egypt, the vessel aimed to “break the blockade” imposed on Gaza. It carried what Israel described as a modest amount of humanitarian aid, dismissing the mission as a “media stunt” led by “celebrities seeking publicity.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the boat had been “safely redirected to the Israeli coast,” adding that the passengers would be repatriated to their countries of origin. A video recorded by the crew prior to the interception warned: “If you are seeing this video, it means we have been intercepted either by the State of Israel or by allied forces.”

International Outcry and Calls for Mobilization

The interception sparked outrage across several European capitals. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition denounced a “blatant violation of international law,” claiming the seizure occurred in international waters — a version supported by La France Insoumise (LFI), the Greens, and several European lawmakers.

“What the Israeli government has done is illegal in several respects,” said LFI MEP Manon Aubry, who also highlighted that Rima Hassan enjoys parliamentary immunity. She urged French President Emmanuel Macron and EU leaders to “demand the immediate release of the crew.”

Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for “mobilizations across France,” condemning what he described as an “illegal arrest.” Green Party leader Marine Tondelier also called for international grassroots mobilization, stating that “only popular pressure can protect these activists and push states to act for their release.”

A rally is scheduled Monday at 6 p.m. in Paris, at Place de la République, as well as in other cities across France.

Ongoing War and Humanitarian Crisis

Israel justified the operation as a matter of national security and claimed that genuine humanitarian aid is already being delivered through established channels: over 1,200 trucks reportedly entered Gaza from Israel in the past two weeks. The foreign ministry stated that the aid aboard the Madleen—”not consumed by the celebrities”—will be rerouted to Gaza via official humanitarian corridors.

Conditions in Gaza remain dire. The World Health Organization recently warned of the “collapse of the healthcare system” in the territory, with no functioning hospitals left in northern Gaza.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the October 7, 2023 attack, has resulted in over 1,218 Israeli deaths, mostly civilians, and more than 54,772 Palestinian casualties, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, deemed credible by the United Nations.