Greta Thunberg, ‘Madleen’ crew safe, en-route to Israel: Israeli Foreign Ministry
Updated: Jun 9th, 2025
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Following a viral video in which Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg claimed that the humanitarian aid ship ‘Madleen’ had been intercepted by Israeli forces, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Thunberg is safe and currently en route to Israel.
An official statement from the ministry dismissed the incident as a publicity stunt, stating, “The ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.”
The ministry further criticised the mission, claiming that the aid aboard the Madleen amounted to less than a single truckload and was intended more as a media spectacle than meaningful humanitarian assistance.
“While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation for publicity, more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel over the past two weeks,” the statement read. It also noted that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians during that time.
Israel emphasised that established humanitarian channels are available for delivering aid to Gaza and do not involve what it described as ‘Instagram selfies.’
The ministry confirmed that all passengers aboard the Madleen are safe and unharmed. “They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over,” the statement concluded.
The ship Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had set sail from Catania, Italy, carrying humanitarian supplies and a group of 12 international activists, including Thunberg, aiming to reach Gaza amid the ongoing aid blockade.
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