ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Israeli forces early on Monday intercepted a boat carrying aid for Gaza that featured climate activist Greta Thunberg, with the boarding of the vessel being strongly condemned by Hamas.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition—the organization that prepared the shipment— stated that the ship was intercepted at 3:02 AM CET, posting, “SOS! [T]he volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces” on X.

Internationally famous climate activist Greta Thunberg from Sweden released a pre-recorded video in which she says, "If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters."  

The Madleen departed from Sicily on June 1, with an official statement saying it sought to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza in “direct defiance of Israel’s illegal and genocidal blockade.”

The now-detained vessel is set to be transferred to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Hamas on Monday condemned what it dubbed “Israeli state terrorism,” calling the interception “a blatant violation of international law and an assault on civilian volunteers acting out of humanitarian motives.”

The Hamas statement continued, “We salute the free solidarity activists of various nationalities who steadfastly confronted the threats and affirmed that Gaza is not alone, that the conscience of humanity remains alive in the face of the fascist occupation, and that Gaza is not alone but enjoys the support of the free people of the world.”

The Palestinian militant group issued three demands, namely that Israel release the ship’s crew, that the United Nations and other international organizations condemn the action, and that more international initiatives be devised to “break the unjust siege imposed on Gaza for more than 17 years.”

Israeli officials have long criticized the Madleen’s voyage and lauded its interception, with a foreign ministry social media post saying, "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."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz commended the Madleen's detention, saying that he has instructed Israeli military personnel to show the crew, whom he dismissed as "anti-semitic Greta [Thunberg] and her fellow Hamas supporters," videos of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas upon their arrival in Ashdod.

According to Freedom Flotilla, the Madleen "symbolizes the unyielding spirit of Palestinian resilience and the growing global resistance to Israel’s use of collective punishment and deliberate starvation policies.”

An aid vessel from the same organization was attacked in May en route to the besieged Palestinian territory in an alleged Israeli drone strike in international waters.