Israeli Forces Intercept Aid Vessel En Route to Gaza

An international group of activists attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip has been intercepted by Israeli naval forces, according to multiple sources. The vessel, which was seeking to breach Israel’s longstanding maritime blockade on Gaza, included high-profile passengers such as climate activist Greta Thunberg and a French lawmaker among the 12 individuals onboard.

Thunberg has since claimed they were “kidnapped,” while Israeli authorities downplayed the incident. In a statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the effort as a publicity stunt, calling it a “selfie yacht,” and confirmed the boat was being redirected “safely” to the Israeli port city of Ashdod.

Israel’s Defense Minister further announced that upon their arrival, the activists would be shown footage of the October 2023 Hamas attack, which claimed hundreds of Israeli lives and reignited the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The vessel carried citizens from Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey. The interception has triggered diplomatic concern, with the Palestinian Foreign Ministry calling for the immediate protection of the activists and their right to deliver humanitarian assistance.

A United Nations official specializing in Palestinian human rights has urged the international community to send more humanitarian vessels together in solidarity, highlighting the growing call for direct aid efforts amid Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis.

The incident adds to the mounting tensions surrounding the Gaza blockade, which critics argue has significantly worsened conditions for civilians, especially amid ongoing conflict and restricted aid access.