Title: Greta Thunberg's Gaza Aid Ship Seized by Israel, Activist Deported
Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Ship, Activists to Depart for Home - Diverted Gaza Aid Ship: Activists Ordered to Return, Israel Stops Shipment to Gaza Strip
Hey there, pal! Let's dive into the latest scoop on Greta Thunberg's voyage to aid Gaza with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Once upon a time, the ship, christened the Medea, sailed from Sicily with a bunch of passionate activists, aiming to shatter Israel's blockade of aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. They sought to speak up against the ongoing misery in the region, as famously vocalized by French-Palestinian EU MP Rima Hassan.
However, the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the guy in charge of their national defense force, had a different idea. He issued orders to prevent the ship's arrival at the Gaza Strip shore, referring to Greta and her mates as "antisemites" and the ship as a mouthpiece of Hamas propaganda.
To make a long story short, on June 10, the Israeli military pulled off a high-seas heist, snatching the Medea around 125 miles away from Gaza's coast. The Israeli authorities accused the ship of intending to flout its naval blockade of Gaza, a move they say is legal [1].
The anti-war warrior Greta Thunberg and the rest of the passengers were then taken to Ashdod, an Israeli port town. But their stay didn't last long! Greta was promptly escorted off Israeli soil, first touching down in France, and then jetting off to her home sweet home, Sweden [1]. Activists weren't too pleased with Israel's actions, denouncing them as a violation of international law [1].
Rights groups and the organizers of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition expressed outrage over the situation. Telegram, a popular messaging service, was buzzing with the claims that the Israeli army had kidnapped the crew and cut contact with the ship [3]. Even the news agency, AFP, couldn't confirm the crew's whereabouts [4].
But hey, let's not forget there's more to this story! The Medea's epic journey was part of a larger mission to challenge Israel's military blockade, which has cast a shadow over Gaza for quite a few years [2].
Now, if you're thinking that this sounds like a scene from a political thriller, that's because it kind of is! But remember, this is real life, and hundreds of innocent lives are at stake. So here's wishing for a swift resolution and worldwide aid for the people of Gaza.
Cheers!
[1] Israel claims legal right to seize aid ship bound for Gaza, Al Jazeera. Retrieved from [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/11/israel-claims-legal-right-to-seize-aid-ship-bound-for-gaza]
[2] Freedom Flotilla: Ten Years on, the Struggle Continues, Middle East Monitor. Retrieved from [https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/2023/05/16/freedom-flotilla-ten-years-on-the-struggle-continues/]
[3] Freedom Flotilla news: In another provocative move, Israel seizes ship bound for Gaza, Middle East Eye. Retrieved from [https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/freedom-flotilla-news-israel-seizes-gaza-bound-ship-greta-thunberg]
[4] Deported Greta Thunberg leaves Israel for Sweden, Al Jazeera. Retrieved from [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/11/deported-greta-thunberg-leaves-israel-for-sweden]
The European Parliament expressed concern over Greta Thunberg's deportation from Israel after her aid ship, the Medea, was seized by the Israeli authorities. This incident sparked general-news debates among parliamentarians about the politics surrounding Israel's blockade of Gaza. Various rights groups and organizations, such as the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, demanded the immediate lifting of the naval blockade, calling it a violation of international law.
