Greta Thunberg’s Flotilla Reports Being Circled By Israeli Forces En Route To Gaza

Greta Thunberg and her friends on the “Freedom Flotilla,” reported that they were surrounded by Israeli Defense Forces speedboats Sunday evening by the Israeli Defense Forces on its way to Gaza. 

The left-wing activists posted videos on their social media accounts claiming that their 59-foot boat, the Madleen, was surrounded by IDF boats.

According to United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, the flotilla was surrounded by 5 IDF speed boats.

“I am with the flotilla online,” she posted to X. “The captain is instructing the team to stay calm and seated, with their passports and life jackets on. I hear them speaking with Israeli soldiers as I type… telling they are carrying humanitarian aid and go in peace. For the time being they are just circled. I am with them, recording everything.”

Albanese later added that the boat is continuing to vessels, while the speedboats are “watching.”

I just spoke again with the Flotilla, incl its Comm Room in Catania

All looks calm and safe now. Speedboats watching; but the flotilla continues its sailing.

It will be a long night. And as they say and we say, "we are together". https://t.co/ya43ZyN7yF

— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) June 8, 2025

The group, which has been mocked as the “selfie flotilla,” is using the voyage as a publicity stunt in its attempt to break the Israeli blockage on Gaza. The passengers are primarily left-wing activists, including Thiago Ávila of Brazilian who has a long record of anti-Israel radicalism—including attending the funeral of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Other passengers include a French member of the European Parliament, Rima Hassan, and “Game of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham.

“Alert. Our bot [sic] is being surrounded,” Ávila posted to Instagram. 

Ávila later said that it could have been “a false alarm,” adding that the boats that had encircled their vessel had eventually went on their way.

On Sunday morning, Israel’s Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, announced that he instructed the IDF to prevent the “hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza – and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end.”

Katz called Thunberg “antisemitic Greta,” adding that she and her friends should turn back because they will “not reach Gaza.”

“Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organizations – at sea, in the air, and on land,” Katz said. 

The IDF previously told The Daily Wire that it is “prepared for a wide range of scenarios which it will act upon in accordance with the directives of the political echelon.”

The small vessel’s attempt to deliver food, diapers, medical supplies, and other aid comes as the Trump administration-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation successfully delivered more than 8 million meals to Gazans, according to the organization.

The group has been tasked with implementing President Trump’s aid initiative, designed to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches Gazan civilians while preventing Hamas from seizing supplies — a problem that has persisted since the war began following the group’s October 7, 2023, massacre.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statement, reiterating that “the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to unauthorized vessels under a legal naval blockade.”

With recent reports of a “celebrities yacht” heading to Gaza, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to clarify the following:

The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to unauthorized vessels under a legal naval blockade, consistent with international law.

The yacht…

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 8, 2025