Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-bound Aid Ship in International Waters

At around 8 p.m. EST, the Madleen, a humanitarian ship part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, came under siege by naval forces believed to be associated with Israel. Among those on board were Greta Thunberg, a noted environmentalist and humanitarian, and Yasemin Acar, a German FFC volunteer.

The official Instagram account for the flotilla posted a series of videos Saturday evening describing a rapidly deteriorating situation at sea. Around 7 p.m. EST, the account shared a video of Thiago Ávila, who said the group had become surrounded by what appeared to be Israeli vessels, describing the situation as a “war crime.” Ávila urged the world to “sound the alarm.”

In the video, Ávila said the flotilla was encircled by both unidentified ships and vessels, likely associated with Israel. He added that the group was unsure of the vessel’s intentions — whether they planned to attack, block, or arrest the activists. In response, the flotilla initiated safety protocols, including donning life vests and sending an alert.

Shortly after, drones appeared overhead. Ávila, speaking in dim lighting, identified them as quadcopters. At approximately 7:20 p.m., the group lost radio contact. Ávila is seen moving through the ship, instructing people to take cover. He reports the assailants began spraying the ship with a “white paint-like substance.” About 30 minutes later, the flotilla’s account posted security camera footage showing the vessel being rammed and boarded by soldiers. Individuals visible on camera were seen seated with their hands raised.

By 9 p.m., Ávila’s account, along with those belonging to Greta Thunberg, Ömer Faruk Acar, and the main flotilla page, posted prerecorded messages stating that if the videos were being viewed, the activists had been taken by the IDF or their allies.

This is a developing story and will be updated.