Greta Thunberg and activists: Israel stops auxiliary ship for Gaza!

Greta Thunberg and activists: Israel stops auxiliary ship for Gaza!

On June 10, 2025, the Gaza solidarity ship "Madleen", with the well-known climate protection activist Greta Thunberg on board, caused a stir worldwide when it was stopped by the Israeli Navy in the night from Sunday to Monday. A week ago, the “Madleen” set sail from Sicily to bring urgently needed relief supplies such as baby food and medical care in the Gaza Strip. The activists on board had the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, who further worsen due to the longer conflict and the blockade, want to move into the light of the public. [Tiroler daily] (https://www.tt.com/artikel/30910315/israel-weist-gaza-schiff- activist-aus) reports that the ship incorporated on Monday evening in the Israeli port city of Ashdod after it was intercepted in international waters.

In a video, Thunberg expressed that she and the other activists were "kidnapped". The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that all passengers, including a French EU parliamentarian, were "in safe and unscathed" and were supplied with food and water. They would leave at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, while those who refused to sign instructions should be brought to a judicial authority.

background and reactions

The incident makes it clear that the Israeli government wanted to prevent the ship's arrival at all costs. Defense Minister Israel Katz had previously instructed the Navy to intercept the boat and warned the activists that they would not reach Gaza. Critics accuse Thunberg to ignore the extent of the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, which triggered the current Gaza war. Since then, more than 54,800 Palestinians have died, while Israel had blocked the delivery of relief goods for almost three months. In the past few weeks, however, it has been noted that this blockade was loosened up a bit, as the time described in detail. The ship was originally supposed to arrive in Gaza on Monday morning before it was stopped.

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic - there is a lack of food, drinking water, medication and other everyday needs, which makes the situation unbearable for the civilian population. Organizations such as UNICEF have been concerned about the conditions for weeks and warn that access to relief supplies is crucial for the chances of survival of civilians. A new initiative, the "Gaza Humanitrian Foundation" (GHF), is planning the reorganization of the distribution of relief goods, but this is also critical. Sponsored by US security forces, it pursues the goal of checking access to help, which already raises concerns about security and neutrality.

look into the future

Despite the setbacks, the activists show determination. It has already been announced that a new attempt should be made to sail to Gaza. In addition to her commitment to climate protection, Thunberg has also increasingly campaigned for the interests of the Palestinian population. Your messages not only require attention, but also confront the international community with the serious effects of the conflict and the continuing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The question remains how the global community will react to these challenges and whether a solution is in sight.

The situation remains tense, and while measures are planned to support people in the Gaza Strip, the resistance and geopolitical tensions are still present. A de -escalation of the conflict and a humanitarian solution seem urgently necessary, but it remains to be seen whether this can be done promptly.