French president demands immediate release of French citizens detained by Israel after Gaza-bound ship interception
French President Macron advocates for prompt reptriation of national citizens.
In an urgent call, French President Emmanuel Macron has requested the prompt release of six French nationals aboard the "Madleen" ship, which was recently halted by Israeli authorities during its journey to Gaza.
According to updates from the Élysée, Macron has made a plea to Israel, seeking expedited freedom for the activists.
The humanitarian aid ship, which was transporting supplies, was stopped by Israeli forces in the dead of the night. Among the passengers were climate activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan.
Recent events have split the focus from the 2010 "Mavi Marmara" incident to the current instance involving the "Madleen" vessel in June 2025.
Source: ntv.de, dpa
Insights from the latest news:
- Detention and Deportation: Israeli authorities intercepted the British-flagged "Madleen" on June 9–10, 2025, carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza. Greta Thunberg, Rima Hassan, and several other French activists were on board. Greta Thunberg was subsequently deported back to Sweden, approximately 12 hours after the vessel was escorted to Ashdod port.
- Release Status: At least one French citizen amongst the group voluntarily agreed to be deported with Thunberg, while five other French nationals faced a forced expulsion process after refusing to leave Israel voluntarily. French officials confirmed that these detained citizens have had consular access and that France is closely monitoring the situation.
- Rima Hassan: French MEP, Rima Hassan, was among the French contingent detained, but her exact release status has not been disclosed in the latest reports. The focus in official and media statements has been on the ongoing expulsion process for several of the French nationals.
Key Individuals and Their Statuses
| Person/Group | Status (as of June 10–11, 2025) ||---------------------|-------------------------------------------|| Greta Thunberg | Deported to Sweden via France || One French citizen | Deported voluntarily || Five French citizens | Detained, subject to forced expulsion || Rima Hassan | Detained, release status not specified |
The Commission, in light of the detention and deportation of French citizens from the intercepted "Madleen" ship, has not yet adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens. Meanwhile, the ongoing political discourse surrounding the Israeli authorities' actions against war-and-conflicts activists, including Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, continues in the arena of general-news, with France actively advocating for the prompt release of its citizens remaining in detention.
