Thunberg held as Gaza aid flotilla intercepted by IDF

Peace campaigner was detained by Israeli military 130km from the coast last night and taken to an undisclosed port

- ALEX CROFT, JAMES C. REYNOLDS, NICOLE WOOTTON-CANE

Greta Thunberg’s aid flotilla was intercepted by Israeli military and its crew detained as it made its final approach to Gaza, Israeli officials have confirmed.

Three vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla were cut off by a naval blockade around 70 nautical miles, or 130km, from the besieged strip at around 8:30pm Gaza time yesterday evening, according to activists on board.

It said Israeli forces boarded and detained passengers on the Alma, Surius, and Adara boats, which were carrying Ms Thunberg alongside other prominent members of the flotilla's steering committee.

The group accused Israel of using “water cannons” and “active aggression” on the vessels Florida, Yulara, and Meteque among others.

“Prior to illegally boarding the ships, it appears as though the Israeli naval vessels intentionally damaged ship communications, in an attempt to block distress signals and stop the livestream of their illegal boat boarding,” it wrote in a statement. “In addition to the boats confirmed to be intercepted, livestream coverage and communication has been lost with multiple other boats.”

The group later confirmed all passengers were unharmed, but condemned what it called “illegal attacks on unarmed humanitarian ships”, labelling the actions as a “war crime”.

Israel’s foreign ministry later posted a video of Ms Thunberg on X as it said the activists were “safe” and would be transferred to an Israeli port.