Israeli speedboats and drones are reportedly circling a Gaza-bound vessel in the latest dramatic twist involving the Freedom flotilla, which has vowed to defy a blockade and deliver aid — with environmental activist Greta Thunberg reportedly among those aboard.
According to reports, several Israeli vessels surrounded the ship Madleen, prompting the crew to raise the alarm. However, in a later update, the Freedom flotilla described the situation as a “very unlikely false alarm”, stating the boats ultimately changed course and left the area.
Crew member Thiago Avila shared details of the encounter on Instagram, saying the flotilla had been approached by multiple vessels at once, which then circled and withdrew.
The flotilla’s mission — and the potential interception by Israeli forces — has sparked international attention, especially with Greta Thunberg said to be aboard. The situation remains tense as the ships continue their journey toward Gaza.
In a post on X Thunberg alleges her crew has been “intercepted and kidnapped” by “Israeli occupation forces” and she called on her supporters to pressure Israel for the release of the flotilla.
Speaking from the vessel, flotilla member Thiago Avila said: “It can be IOF vessels, it can be a strategy to come from behind us with their lights off, we’re not sure.”
He reassured supporters that all crew members are trained to respond in an emergency, including getting into position and putting on life jackets — a precaution that led to the alarm being raised.
Yasemin Acar, another flotilla member, confirmed that the crew is now “very close to Gaza”, and emphasised that everyone on board remains safe with no interception taking place so far.
“The reason we sounded the alarm is because two vessels… came 200 metres close to our vessel, this has never happened before in the past eight days,” she explained.
“This is why we sounded the alarm. There are many lights around us and two vessels I’m looking at right now, the other two have left, but these two, one of them has a platform and they stopped their engine and they’re not moving.”
She added: “We have reason to believe this is psychological warfare and they have planned this.”
The situation at sea remains highly tense, with the Freedom flotilla continuing its controversial mission toward Gaza amid growing concerns of a potential interception.
According to initial reports, five vessels were seen surrounding the flotilla, prompting the captain to instruct all those aboard to remain calm and seated, with passports and lifejackets at the ready.
UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who is travelling with the group, described the situation in real-time on social media platform X. “I hear them speaking with Israeli soldiers as I type… telling [them] they are carrying humanitarian aid and going in peace. For the time being they are just circled. I am with them, recording everything.”
Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post has reported that Israel’s elite naval unit, Shayetet 13, has already begun training to board the vessel if it attempts to break the blockade and enter Gaza.
A security source told Maariv: “It’s a small and low-profile sailboat with a small auxiliary engine, so it sails slowly. We’ll have no problem boarding it once it enters Israeli waters.”
Despite the threat of interception, the Freedom flotilla has remained defiant, insisting they “will not turn back” in their mission to reach Gaza — even as Israel vows that Greta Thunberg will never arrive in the war-ravaged enclave.
The situation remains volatile as the standoff at sea unfolds.