Greta Thunberg ‘Safe And Healthy’ After Israeli Military Intercepts Flotilla Bound For Gaza

Last Updated:October 02, 2025, 07:46 IST

The Israeli military personnel on Wednesday intercepted an international flotilla , with activists including Greta Thunberg, that was carrying medicine and food for Gaza.

Greta Thunberg seen collecting her belongings after the flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces. (Photo: Israel Foreign Ministry/Reuters)

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and her friends were “safe and healthy” after Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, as part of its latest effort to break an Israeli blockade of the Palestinian enclave.

Thunberg’s ship was among those the Israeli navy intercepted after Israel warned the flotilla against entering the waters it says fall under its blockade, with Israel’s foreign ministry posting footage of the 22-year-old retrieving her belongings.

“Already several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” said the ministry on X.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, involving around 45 ships carrying over 500 politicians and activists, including Greta Thunberg, had left Spain last month, aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and send urgent humanitarian aid to the territory ravaged by starvation due to Israel’s military offensive.

Thunberg’s ship was among those the Israeli navy intercepted after Israel warned the flotilla against entering the waters it says fall under its blockade. “The sole purpose of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla is provocation. Israel, Italy, Greece, and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem have all offered and continue to offer the flotilla a way to peacefully deliver any aid they might have to Gaza. The flotilla refused because they are not interested in aid, but in provocation,” said the Israeli foreign ministry.

Countries Condemn Israeli Interception

The organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said they were “illegally intercepted and boarded” by Israel in international waters. “Around 8:30 pm Gaza time (1730 GMT), several vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including the Alma, Sirius and Adara, were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli occupation forces in international waters,” the flotilla said.

“Beyond the confirmed interceptions, live streams and communications with several other vessels have been lost,” it added. Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian European Parliament member, claimed “hundreds” of people “have been illegally arrested and arbitrarily detained by Israel”

Hamas condemned the interception of the flotilla “in international waters” as “crime of piracy and maritime terrorism”. Hundreds turned out in Italy in support of the flotilla, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he will expel all remaining Israeli diplomats over the interception.

Turkey’s foreign minister called it “an act of terrorism that constitutes the most serious violation of international law and endangers the lives of innocent civilians”.

Warnings By Spain, Italy

Ahead of the interception, Spain and Italy, which sent naval escorts after it was struck with stun grenades and irritants in international waters off Greece, urged the ships to halt before entering Israel’s declared exclusion zone off Gaza. They urged the flotilla to “stop now” and asked them to abandon its mission, but the activists said their decision was an attempt to “sabotage” their endeavours.

Speaking ahead of a European Council meeting on Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on the activists to halt their voyage, saying it could jeopardise US President Donald Trump’s latest proposed Gaza peace plan, currently still under negotiation.

This was the second time the flotilla was approached on Wednesday. Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007, and there have been several previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea.

In June this year, Israeli naval forces detained Thunberg and 11 crew members from a small ship organised by a pro-Palestinian group called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as they approached Gaza.

(with inputs from agencies)

About the Author

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More

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