Climate activist Greta Thunberg, en route to war-torn Gaza, on Monday claimed that she had been kidnapped by Israeli forces and appealed for help. In response, Israeli authorities said that the aid vessel carrying Thunberg and other activists had been "diverted" to Israel and all the passengers, including Greta, were safe.
“If you see this video, we are being intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel," Thunberg said in the clip.
Israel foreign ministry condemned this move calling it a "publicity" stunt and informed that "selfie yacht" was being diverted to Israel. It advised the passengers to return to their home countries.
The October 7 Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages, with 55 still held—many presumed dead. In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children according to Gaza’s health ministry. The war has devastated Gaza, displacing nearly 90% of its population and leaving residents heavily reliant on international aid.
Here's what we know so far:'Intercepted and kidnapped,' claims Thunberg
Thunberg, and 11 other activists were on their way to Gaza to deliver aid when the climate activist claimed that their ship had been "intercepted and kidnapped" by Israeli forces in the international waters. She further appealed the Swedish government to release her.
“My name is Greta Thunberg, and I am from Sweden. If you see this video, we are being intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel. I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible,” she said.
The Madleen, which set sail from Sicily a week ago, was organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. During its journey, the vessel stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had leapt into the sea in an attempt to escape detention by the Libyan coast guard.
Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian origin, was also among the volunteers on the vessel. She has been denied entry into Israel due to her outspoken criticism of Israeli policies toward Palestinians.
‘Selfie yacht passengers safe'
Taking a swipe at the activists, Israel posted a video of the ship in which the IDF was seen providing food and water to those aboard. Calling them "selfie yacht passengers" it said that the "show is over". In another post, it informed that Thunberg was on "her way to Israel, safe and in good spirits".
"Greta Thunberg is currently on her way to Israel, safe and in good spirits," it said.
"All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over," it said.
'Ways to deliver aid that doesn't involve Instagram selfies'
Providing the reasoning behind diverting the ship to Israel, its foreign ministry said that there were "ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies."
"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 Israeli foreign ministry said.
"While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza," it added.
It further informed that the "tiny aid" left on the vessel would be delivered to Gaza.
"There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies. The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels," it said.